Health Care Affordability Act of 2025
This bill makes permanent temporary changes enacted by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) that generally expand eligibility for and increase the amount of the premium tax credit.
Currently, eligible taxpayers may be able to claim the premium tax credit, which applies toward the cost of obtaining health insurance through health insurance exchanges. To be eligible for the premium tax credit, a taxpayer’s household income must meet or exceed 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and, after 2025, may not exceed 400% of the FPL (maximum income limit). For 2021-2025, the ARPA and IRA eliminated the maximum income limit, which generally expands eligibility for the premium tax credit.
Further, under current law, the amount of the premium tax credit is (1) generally the plan premium (conditions apply), minus (2) the taxpayer’s household income multiplied by the applicable percentage. The applicable percentage is a specific percentage that varies depending on which of six income ranges (adjusted for inflation after 2025) the taxpayer’s household income falls within. For 2021-2025, the ARPA and IRA lowered the applicable percentages and eliminated the adjustment of the applicable percentages for inflation, which generally increases the amount of the premium tax credit.
The bill makes permanent the elimination of the 400% maximum income limit, the lower applicable percentages, and the elimination of the inflation adjustment for the applicable percentages.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 247 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 247
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand eligibility for
the refundable credit for coverage under a qualified health plan.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 9, 2025
Ms. Underwood (for herself, Ms. Castor of Florida, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms.
DeGette, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Pettersen, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Panetta, Mr.
Hoyer, Ms. Norton, Ms. Titus, Mr. Morelle, Mr. Tonko, Ms. Moore of
Wisconsin, Ms. Stevens, Ms. DelBene, Ms. Hoyle of Oregon, Mr. Johnson
of Georgia, Ms. Budzinski, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Beyer, Mr. Horsford, and Mr.
Amo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand eligibility for
the refundable credit for coverage under a qualified health plan.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Health Care Affordability Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN ELIGIBILITY FOR CREDIT.
(a) In General.--Subparagraph (A) of section 36B(c)(1) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``but does not
exceed 400 percent''.
(b) Applicable Percentages.--
(1) In general.--Subparagraph (A) of section 36B(b)(3) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as
follows:
``(A) Applicable percentage.--The applicable
percentage for any taxable year shall be the percentage
such that the applicable percentage for any taxpayer
whose household income is within an income tier
specified in the following table shall increase, on a
sliding scale in a linear manner, from the initial
premium percentage to the final premium percentage
specified in such table for such income tier:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The initial The final
``In the case of household income (expressed premium premium
as a percent of poverty line) within the percentage percentage
following income tier: is-- is--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 150 percent............................. 0 0
150 percent up to 200 percent................. 0 2.0
200 percent up to 250 percent................. 2.0 4.0
250 percent up to 300 percent................. 4.0 6.0
300 percent up to 400 percent................. 6.0 8.5
400 percent and higher........................ 8.5 8.5.''.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Conforming amendments relating to affordability of
coverage.--
(A) Paragraph (1) of section 36B(c) of such Code is
amended by striking subparagraph (E).
(B) Subparagraph (C) of section 36B(c)(2) of such
Code is amended by striking clause (iv).
(C) Paragraph (4) of section 36B(c) of such Code is
amended by striking subparagraph (F).
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
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