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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6760 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6760
To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to facilitate
the enrollment of individuals in qualified health plans.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 16, 2025
Mr. Pappas (for himself, Ms. Norton, Ms. Goodlander, and Ms. Johnson of
Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on
Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to facilitate
the enrollment of individuals in qualified health plans.
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 ``Protecting Access to Affordable
Coverage Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FACILITATING THE ENROLLMENT OF INDIVIDUALS IN QUALIFIED HEALTH
PLANS.
(a) Extending the Open Enrollment Period for Plan Year 2026.--
Section 1311(c)(6) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
(42 U.S.C. 18031(c)(6)) is amended---
(1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``, subject to
subparagraph (E),'' after ``as determined by the Secretary'';
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(3) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period and
inserting ``; and''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(E) an open enrollment period for enrollments for
plan year 2026 that begins not later than November 1,
2025, and ends not earlier than May 1, 2026.''.
(b) Repeal of Certain Verification Requirements.--The amendments
made by section 71303 of an Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant
to title II of H. Con. Res. 14 (Public Law 119-21) are repealed, and
any provision of law amended by such section is restored or revived as
if such amendments had never been enacted.
(c) Ensuring Enrollment Opportunities for Certain Individuals.--
(1) In general.--Section 36B(c)(3)(A) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking clause (iii).
(2) Establishment of special enrollment period.--
(A) In general.--Section 1311(c)(6) of the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C.
18031(c)(6)), as amended by subsection (a), is further
amended--
(i) in subparagraph (D), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (E), by striking the
period and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
``(F) a special enrollment period once per month
for an 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.''.
(B) Effective date.--The amendments made by
subparagraph (A) shall apply with respect to plan years
beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
(d) Navigator Grants.--Section 1311(i) of the Patient Protection
and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18031(i)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
``(C) Mandatory grant.--In awarding grants under
paragraph (1), the Exchange shall, for each plan year
(beginning with plan year 2026)--
``(i) award such grants only to entities
with a physical presence in the State of such
Exchange; and
``(ii) award such a grant to at least 1
entity described in this paragraph.'';
(2) in paragraph (4)(A)--
(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
inserting ``(financial or otherwise)'' after
``interest'';
(B) in clause (i), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(C) in clause (ii), by striking the period and
inserting ``; or''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(iii) for plan year 2026 or a subsequent
plan year--
``(I) be an enhanced direct
enrollment entity;
``(II) charge any fees to
applicants or enrollees; or
``(III) request any form of
remuneration from or on behalf of any
applicant or enrollee.''; and
(3) in paragraph (6)--
(A) by striking ``Funding.--Grants under'' and
inserting ``Funding.--
``(A) State exchanges.--Grants under''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(B) Federal exchanges.--
``(i) In general.--For purposes of carrying
out this subsection, with respect to Exchanges
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 and each subsequent fiscal
year. Such amount for a fiscal year shall
remain available until expended.
``(ii) Allocation.--
``(I) In general.--The Secretary
shall, out of amounts obligated under
clause (i) for a fiscal year, allocate
to each Exchange established and
operated by the Secretary in a State
pursuant to section 1321(c), for making
grants under paragraph (1) during such
fiscal year--
``(aa) $1,250,000; plus
``(bb) an amount that bears
the same ratio to the total
remaining obligated funds (as
defined in subclause (II)) for
such fiscal year as the number
of individuals enrolled in a
qualified health plan offered
through an Exchange established
in such State, or enrolled
under the State plan of such
State under title XIX (or
waiver of such plan), during
the preceding fiscal year bears
to the total number of
individuals enrolled in such a
plan offered through an
Exchange established in any
State that is a specified State
(as defined in subclause (II))
with respect to such fiscal
year, or enrolled under the
State plan of any such State
under title XIX (or waiver of
such plan), during such
preceding fiscal year.
``(II) Definitions.--In this
clause:
``(aa) Total remaining
obligated funds.--The term
`total remaining obligated
funds' means, with respect to a
fiscal year, $100,000,000, less
an amount equal to the product
of--
``(AA) $1,250,000;
and
``(BB) the number
of Exchanges described
in clause (i) for such
fiscal year.
``(bb) Specified state.--
The term `specified State'
means, with respect to a fiscal
year, a State in which the
Secretary establishes and
operates an Exchange pursuant
to section 1321(c).''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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