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<dc:title>119 S3368 IS: Restoring Patient Protections and Affordability Act of 2025</dc:title>
<dc:publisher>U.S. Senate</dc:publisher>
<dc:date>2025-12-04</dc:date>
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<dc:language>EN</dc:language>
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<distribution-code display="yes">II</distribution-code><congress>119th CONGRESS</congress><session>1st Session</session><legis-num>S. 3368</legis-num><current-chamber>IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES</current-chamber><action><action-date date="20251204">December 4, 2025</action-date><action-desc><sponsor name-id="S430">Ms. Blunt Rochester</sponsor> (for herself, <cosponsor name-id="S247">Mr. Wyden</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="S370">Mr. Booker</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="S322">Mr. Merkley</cosponsor>, and <cosponsor name-id="S394">Ms. Smith</cosponsor>) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the <committee-name committee-id="SSFI00">Committee on Finance</committee-name></action-desc></action><legis-type>A BILL</legis-type><official-title>To improve patient protections and affordability under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and for other purposes.</official-title></form><legis-body><section id="S1" section-type="section-one"><enum>1.</enum><header>Short title; table of contents</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id65bed70cf64c47a389601c7a2e1ad885"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Short title</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This Act may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Restoring Patient Protections and Affordability Act of 2025</short-title></quote>.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd81c25cb85d24ee5bea852af4acdf161"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Table of contents</header><text>The table of contents for this Act is as follows:</text><toc><toc-entry level="section" idref="S1">Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="title" idref="idadb7fa1d3d684ea1a4880bc31272b2d3">TITLE I—Consumer protections</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id9595308a20db40c793a3f1ec2395e5b3">Sec. 101. Extension of temporary enhanced premium credits.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id1c447387bd004992bf2b8774ec09d437">Sec. 102. Extending annual open enrollment period for plan year 2026.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id1c340c36c32c43e2940be010be1674f8">Sec. 103. Restoring navigator program.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="idc78b9f07194742fab98c07d29b9e29ab">Sec. 104. Repeal of disallowance of premium tax credit in case of certain coverage enrolled in during special enrollment period.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="title" idref="id117ea015dea54ddb9d6325b1610c141c">TITLE II—Health plan accountability</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id438e33b0d58a422a96714a0448dc36a2">Sec. 201. Minimum notice requirements for plan year 2025 enrollees.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id21a9cfa828504da4a6fbb748abf6e331">Sec. 202. Minimum notice requirements for plan year 2026 enrollees.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id0c0b237a5c7c43d8af48fde69a0ac2fb">Sec. 203. Health insurance issuer reporting requirements.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="idb2f42aa2159a4b9db3fd9b7e1d19f4ba">Sec. 204. Enforcement.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="title" idref="id9ba331426c8046ba8aa561976e231f77">TITLE III—Eliminating red tape</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id3a94f1625b914a09b7a107f2807d3b81">Sec. 301. Applying commercial market policy to reenrollment process.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="iddaf2742ee40c4e95824afad72b70f9ec">Sec. 302. Protection against bureaucratic coverage denials.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="idbf5cd0c467804cc59f5a8ba6c66ccf0f">Sec. 303. Automatic enrollment from bronze to silver level qualified health plans offered on Exchanges.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="title" idref="idbee7d295170e47c689e2aec7ee9d6f8a">TITLE IV—Market stabilization</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id6367cd04dfb0435c920a8f4a319ce37d">Sec. 401. Restoring marketplace flexibility.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id9a871fcba0b34252bf4415992b22ad08">Sec. 402. No health plan gouging.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="idd06249698dc145bf9a80c96d84358b89">Sec. 403. Protecting continuity of coverage.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="iddc7f09b55b824640a5aa2308c8ac6b35">Sec. 404. Protecting enrollees from surprise premium bills.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id9d198a445e0c47678da4df94c51274a3">Sec. 405. No ACA and employer coverage premium spikes.</toc-entry></toc></subsection></section><title id="idadb7fa1d3d684ea1a4880bc31272b2d3" style="OLC"><enum>I</enum><header>Consumer protections</header><section id="id9595308a20db40c793a3f1ec2395e5b3" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>Extension of temporary enhanced premium credits</header><subsection id="id06909c9581434dfe9876c338900b835d"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Clause (iii) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/36B">section 36B(b)(3)(A)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—</text><paragraph id="idfc20340005c74d4dba8a00773a68a10a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>January 1, 2026</quote> and inserting <quote>January 1, 2029</quote>, and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id326ca117dbf64a7cb39d8cb7edd13d8d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>2025</quote> in the heading and inserting <quote>2028</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id82d62cb8a07642769ab493d9c40aea3a"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Taxpayers whose household income exceeds 400 percent of the poverty line</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/36B">Section 36B(c)(1)(E)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—</text><paragraph id="ide581de62f1eb4117ad25b2645c587d3e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>January 1, 2026</quote> and inserting <quote>January 1, 2029</quote>, and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id543948030b0b479d8870569d67556d07"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>2025</quote> in the heading and inserting <quote>2028</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idbca59e04d5af489881ad35548047ba08"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.</text></subsection></section><section id="id1c447387bd004992bf2b8774ec09d437"><enum>102.</enum><header>Extending annual open enrollment period for plan year 2026</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">With respect to plan year 2026, the annual open enrollment period required to be provided by Exchanges under section 1311(c)(6) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18031">42 U.S.C. 18031(c)(6)</external-xref>) shall extend through May 1, 2026.</text></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section" id="id1c340c36c32c43e2940be010be1674f8"><enum>103.</enum><header>Restoring navigator program</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc7e33f7137034e3797d9ac8df087ada0"> <enum>(a)</enum> <header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Funding</header> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1311(i)(6) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18031">42 U.S.C. 18031(i)(6)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
          <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"
            id="id0276bdbb313d4823be8c0f277b663bf0">
            <enum>(1)</enum>
 <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>Grants under</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
            <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline"
              id="id96312741c8014c318bb3eafa59a17d31">
              <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"
                id="id45f20791240240d5abe9830e6cdf7da4">
                <enum>(A)</enum>
                <header>State Exchanges</header>
 <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of an Exchange established and operated by a State pursuant to subsection (b), grants under</text>
              </subparagraph>
              <after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block>
            </quoted-block>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"
            id="iddf34fe8a0ebf42d69ee332780d2e0d18">
            <enum>(2)</enum>
 <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id71f55e7eec0c49958908e62eeba1fb1d"> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7d02d99171dd413288ba2dafbb43f38b"> <enum>(B)</enum> <header>Federal Exchanges</header> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of carrying out this subsection with respect to an Exchange established and operated by the Secretary pursuant to section 1321(c), the Secretary shall obligate $100,000,000 out of amounts collected through the user fees on participating health insurance issuers pursuant to section 156.50 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations) for fiscal year 2026. Such amount so obligated for a fiscal year shall remain available until expended.</text>
              </subparagraph>
              <after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block>
            </quoted-block>
          </paragraph>
 </subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0a37bdd16670457aad5d99eef729db43"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Standards</header><text>Section 1311(i)(4)(A) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18031">42 U.S.C. 18031(i)(4)(A)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idaf2fbefd304a4408af03bc0a6a695005"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (i), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2c91fd6eba7f4670bd2d31eb4a54bbce"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4dd9c59654e24003b3fc8a68961d9f4e"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4b3a2f9669cc4c4ca9ed85b94dbead5d"><clause id="idb5212dfd31c74b8f98f4792c97a3fc81"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>charge any fees to applicants or enrollees; or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide53ccdcf4ac14aa49e3369bc66684001"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">request any form of remuneration from or on behalf of any applicant or enrollee.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idc78b9f07194742fab98c07d29b9e29ab"><enum>104.</enum><header>Repeal of disallowance of premium tax credit in case of certain coverage enrolled in during special enrollment period</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf710e17f63594fb899e13e313baf5a45"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/36B">Section 36B(c)(3)(A)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/119/21">Public Law 119–21</external-xref>, is amended by striking clause (iii).</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc041a5e91f93436aa6e8c8651666ecaf"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendment made by this section shall apply with respect to plan years beginning after December 31, 2025.</text></subsection></section></title><title id="id117ea015dea54ddb9d6325b1610c141c" style="OLC"><enum>II</enum><header>Health plan accountability</header><section id="id438e33b0d58a422a96714a0448dc36a2"><enum>201.</enum><header>Minimum notice requirements for plan year 2025 enrollees</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall require each health insurance issuer that offered a qualified health plan through a Federal or State Exchange for plan year 2025 to notify, not later than 15 days after the date of enactment of this Act, all individuals enrolled in such plan for any month during plan year 2025 of—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1767c3af085a4fadade159a0d17b7cd3"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">changes to eligibility for premium assistance credits, and to the premium assistance credit amounts, under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/36B">section 36B</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that first take effect with respect to plan year 2026;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idce9ce0ab180640c9ae9841e709a78321"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the extended open enrollment period for plan year 2026 pursuant to section 101; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd5e03e2bef94413a9f7c53529d5d858a"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any additional information relating to such eligibility and enrollment, as the Secretary determines appropriate, including the website and phone number for the applicable Federal or State Exchange.</text></paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id21a9cfa828504da4a6fbb748abf6e331"><enum>202.</enum><header>Minimum notice requirements for plan year 2026 enrollees</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9d8afd9ff4694b0994365d7719cb7d66"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall require each health insurance issuer that offers a qualified health plan through a Federal or State Exchange for plan year 2026 to notify all individuals enrolled in such plan for plan year 2026 of—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb784f206412447e99e2d6a844e3d3297"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">changes to eligibility for premium assistance credits, and to the premium assistance credit amounts, under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/36B">section 36B</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that first take effect with respect to plan year 2026;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9ec5a63b239d4d89a738f24d534745e1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the extended open enrollment period for plan year 2026 pursuant to section 101; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2286dc05e04442b1bfabd081a2685137"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any additional information relating to such eligibility and enrollment, as the Secretary determines appropriate, including the website and phone number for the applicable Federal or State Exchange.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf4b0395a75b54e8c8dbeb3fef56b1c21"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Timing</header><text>The notification by a health insurance issuer under subsection (a) shall be made—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddc15d23867144b87bde092533943c911"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not later than 15 days after the date of enactment of this Act, with respect to individuals enrolled in such plan as of the date of enactment of this Act; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ideaf74eeacbde46b9a2c9a46d65f9bd10"> <enum>(2)</enum> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not later than 15 days after an individual's enrollment, with respect to individuals enrolling, after such date of enactment, in the plan during the open enrollment period for plan year 2026.</text>
 </paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0c0b237a5c7c43d8af48fde69a0ac2fb"><enum>203.</enum><header>Health insurance issuer reporting requirements</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id38eaebfd61d14c7ca8948e2571db9fc4"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report from issuer</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each health insurance issuer that is subject to the reporting requirements under sections 201 and 202 shall submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services a report attesting to compliance with the requirements under sections 201 and 202.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbb0da30f545943afb28bd5af438a76fb"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consolidated report to Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives a report that consolidates the reports submitted by issuers under subsection (a).</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb2f42aa2159a4b9db3fd9b7e1d19f4ba"><enum>204.</enum><header>Enforcement</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddea83f8c3dcd4e5298fea26bbcc97758"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Consistent with the process set forth in subsections (d) and (e) of section 156.805 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), the Secretary of Health and Human Services may impose a civil monetary penalty upon any health insurance issuer who fails to comply with the notification requirements under section 201 or 202 or the reporting requirements under section 203.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1aafec7e8b2e4624ab0e6a214e367367"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Penalty amounts</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb4b8ef92f3a14d4f84bd9fb3651d06b6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Violations regarding notice to enrollees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a violation of section 201 or 202, such penalty shall be in the amount equal to $1,000 for each individual enrolled in a plan for plan year 2025 or 2026 who did not receive a notice as required under section 201 or 202, as applicable, for each day between the date on which such notice was due and the date on which the notice is provided.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id18c1847676284adcba4f5dff320fc95f"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reporting violations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a violation of section 203, such penalty shall be in the amount of $1,000 per day for each individual enrolled in health insurance coverage with respect to which the report is required, for each day between the date on which the report under section 302 was due and the date on which the report is submitted.</text></paragraph></subsection></section></title><title style="OLC" commented="no" level-type="subsequent" id="id9ba331426c8046ba8aa561976e231f77"><enum>III</enum><header>Eliminating red tape</header><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3a94f1625b914a09b7a107f2807d3b81"><enum>301.</enum><header>Applying commercial market policy to reenrollment process</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf10bc3befe5e4a28bd12189b04dbadca"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/36B">Section 36B(c)(5)(A)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as added by <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/119/21">Public Law 119–21</external-xref>, is amended by striking <quote>, using applicable enrollment information that shall be provided or verified by the applicant,</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb2e8bb3469b54350a38188a0d06614d9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2027.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddaf2742ee40c4e95824afad72b70f9ec"><enum>302.</enum><header>Protection against bureaucratic coverage denials</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9e480f459b764ef5a1c17dc7f0614f39"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1311(c)(6) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18031">42 U.S.C. 18031(c)(6)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide63f4e2f8710431f8b7aa75f27a90312"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (C), by striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a semicolon; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd4ac94589058459bacb0428ad7f2b795"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd534c9f3ebd0435ebbea352e8f601749"><subparagraph id="id1e16311b92f2427199450983fdbda0bf"><enum>(E)</enum><text>special enrollment periods for any individual denied the advance payment for which the individual applies for one or more months pending the verification prescribed by <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/36B">section 36B(c)(5)(A)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, to permit enrollment of any such individual following such verification; and</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1d19443c1c964967b654b6d2431e65a3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendment made by this section shall apply with respect to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2028.</text></subsection></section><section id="idbf5cd0c467804cc59f5a8ba6c66ccf0f"><enum>303.</enum><header>Automatic enrollment from bronze to silver level qualified health plans offered on Exchanges</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall revise section 155.335(j) of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation) to ensure that, with respect to reenrollments for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, a Federal or State Exchange established under subtitle D of title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18021">42 U.S.C. 18021 et seq.</external-xref>) may reenroll an individual who was enrolled in a bronze level qualified health plan in a silver level qualified health plan (as such terms are defined in section 1301(a) and described in 1302(d) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18021">42 U.S.C. 18021(a)</external-xref>; 18022(d))).</text></section></title><title id="idbee7d295170e47c689e2aec7ee9d6f8a" style="OLC"><enum>IV</enum><header>Market stabilization</header><section id="id6367cd04dfb0435c920a8f4a319ce37d"><enum>401.</enum><header>Restoring marketplace flexibility</header><subsection id="id8af31ae3ec2d4ab997c4169d511d7fc8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1311(c)(6) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18031">42 U.S.C. 18031(c)(6)</external-xref>), as amended by section 302(a), is further amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf8bf883c55b34da2abd8dc4e1a926bf5"><subparagraph id="idc41417671e3247c794211633a4da946e"><enum>(F)</enum><text>a special enrollment period once per month for any individual who is eligible for the advance payment of premium tax credits under section 1412 and whose household income is not expected to exceed 150 percent of the poverty line for a family of the size involved.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="idab64ea5130764f94bcd29913309a9f70" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.</text></subsection></section><section id="id9a871fcba0b34252bf4415992b22ad08"><enum>402.</enum><header>No health plan gouging</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—</text><paragraph id="id803df6c012d9496199fab91921923cd8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>revise section 156.140(c) of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), to provide that, for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, the allowable variation in the actuarial value of a health plan applicable under such section shall be the allowable variation for such plan applicable under such section for plan year 2025; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id29b86f701f584a2cb1dba16832273cb0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>revise section 156.400 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), to provide that, for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, the term <term>de minimis variation for a silver plan variation</term> means a minus 0 percentage point and plus 2 percentage point allowable actuarial value variation.</text></paragraph></section><section id="idd06249698dc145bf9a80c96d84358b89"><enum>403.</enum><header>Protecting continuity of coverage</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id61f3501dcc3d40a1a35c40122aa2c926"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall revise section 155.305(f)(4) of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation) to provide that an Exchange may determine an enrollee ineligible for an advance premium tax credit under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/36B">section 36B</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as described in such section 155.305(f)(4) only after a taxpayer (or a taxpayer's spouse, if married) has failed to file a Federal income tax return and reconcile their past advance premium tax credit for 2 consecutive years for which tax data will be utilized for verification of household income and family size.</text></subsection><subsection id="id51512b51b00b4e85baf9afd77e50316e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The requirement described in subsection (a) shall apply with respect to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddc7f09b55b824640a5aa2308c8ac6b35"><enum>404.</enum><header>Protecting enrollees from surprise premium bills</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id04fe465b17ee418da2d18f598fa4f76e"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/36B">Section 36B(f)(2)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/119/21">Public Law 119–21</external-xref>, is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd89d81add14640b7a51cee890519dbd1"> <enum>(1)</enum> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>If the advanced payments</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
            <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline"
              id="id633d3a0ddf3a4e7695d82a34deb7c3ed">
              <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"
                id="iddcfc10229c534d4483ea6d5adbf1151c">
                <enum>(A)</enum>
                <header>In general</header>
 <text>If the advanced payments</text> </subparagraph> <after-quoted-block>, and</after-quoted-block> </quoted-block> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0f6750d46a874bd1bcb1b8e87d6bdc9b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0d8392eedf6941908dd0de71e9a61a68"><subparagraph id="id9a5f3ce2f2ec4e279d4772504997643c"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitation on increase</header><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc739c8d27d4246f6bbc2d1f57e9f988e"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In the case of a taxpayer whose household income is less than 400 percent of the poverty line for the size of the family involved for the taxable year, the amount of the increase under subparagraph (A) shall in no event exceed the applicable dollar amount determined in accordance with the following table (one-half of such amount in the case of a taxpayer whose tax is determined under section 1(c) for the taxable year):</text><table table-type="" table-template-name="Generic: 1 text, 1 num" align-to-level="section" frame="topbot" colsep="1" rowsep="0" blank-lines-before="1" line-rules="hor-ver" rule-weights="4.4.4.0.0.0"><tgroup cols="2" grid-typeface="1.1" rowsep="0" thead-tbody-ldg-size="10.10.12"><colspec coldef="txt" colname="column1" min-data-value="200" rowsep="0" colwidth="269pts"/><colspec coldef="fig" colname="column2" min-data-value="10" rowsep="0" colwidth="56pts"/><thead><row><entry align="center" morerows="0" namest="column1" rowsep="1" colname="column1">If the household income (expressed as a percentage of the poverty line) is:</entry><entry align="center" morerows="0" namest="column2" rowsep="1" colname="column2">The applicable dollar amount is:</entry></row></thead><tbody><row><entry align="left" rowsep="0" stub-definition="txt-ldr" stub-hierarchy="1" colname="column1">Less than 200%</entry><entry align="right" rowsep="0" colname="column2">$600</entry></row><row><entry align="left" rowsep="0" stub-definition="txt-ldr" stub-hierarchy="1" colname="column1">At least 200% but less than 300%</entry><entry align="right" rowsep="0" colname="column2">$1,500</entry></row><row><entry align="left" rowsep="0" stub-definition="txt-ldr" stub-hierarchy="1" colname="column1">At least 300% but less than 400%</entry><entry align="right" rowsep="0" colname="column2">$2,500.</entry></row></tbody></tgroup></table></clause><clause id="id02e47d538e6c4d5b865d45eced197ca1"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Indexing of amount</header><text>In the case of any calendar year beginning after 2014, each of the dollar amounts in the table contained under clause (i) shall be increased by an amount equal to—</text><subclause id="ida119e9fddb7c4213bb4408cf1328b211"><enum>(I)</enum><text>such dollar amount, multiplied by</text></subclause><subclause id="id874344337e1e4ad3b70754801f977bdd"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year, determined by substituting <quote>calendar year 2013</quote> for <quote>calendar year 2016</quote> in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.</text></subclause><continuation-text continuation-text-level="clause">If the amount of any increase under clause (i) is not a multiple of $50, such increase shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $50.</continuation-text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id518ca70421d04c08826a0797a18d7b75"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>Section 35(g)(12)(B)(ii) of such Code is amended by striking <quote>the amount determined under clause (i) shall be substituted for the amount determined under section 36B(f)(2)</quote> and inserting <quote>then section 36B(f)(2)(B) shall be applied by substituting the amount determined under clause (i) for the amount determined under section 36(f)(2)(A)</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb4f0d33179004b769fa2d38734106d0a"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.</text></subsection></section><section id="id9d198a445e0c47678da4df94c51274a3"><enum>405.</enum><header>No ACA and employer coverage premium spikes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1302(c)(4) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18022">42 U.S.C. 18022(c)(4)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following: <quote>For calendar year 2026 and each subsequent calendar year, the lower bound of the allowable premium adjustment percentage for purposes of paragraph (1)(B)(i) is the lower bound of the premium adjustment percentage that applied under this paragraph for plan year 2022 using National Health Expenditure Accounts projections of average per enrollee employer-sponsored insurance premiums.</quote>.</text></section></title></legis-body></bill>

