Healthcare (Insurance)

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 24, 2026

S 4924: Preserving Patient Access Act

The Preserving Patient Access Act requires health insurance plans to grant special enrollment periods when they remove a doctor from their network or stop covering a specific prescription drug that a patient has used recently. Under this bill, Medicare Advantage and individual market plans must allow individuals to join or switch plans within the same year if their current provider becomes out-of-network after a visit within the last two years or if a covered medication is dropped from the formulary within the last six months. These protections apply to both Medicare Advantage plans and private individual market plans, ensuring that patients can maintain access to their preferred doctors and medications without waiting for the annual open enrollment window. The changes are scheduled to take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient access by requiring special enrollment periods when providers are removed or drugs are dropped, preventing loss of care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare Prescription Drugs

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in committee · United States · House Jun 29, 2026

HR 9532: No Medicare Clawbacks Act of 2026

The No Medicare Clawbacks Act of 2026 prevents group health plans from taking back money they have already paid for medical services if a patient later becomes eligible for Medicare benefits. This rule applies specifically when the medical care was provided during a period of retroactive Medicare coverage and the patient was current on their required health plan contributions at the time of service. By amending the Social Security Act, the bill ensures that individuals do not face financial penalties for receiving care before their Medicare eligibility is officially recognized. The legislation directly affects employers offering group health plans and their employees who might otherwise face recouped payments due to delayed Medicare enrollment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill prevents financial clawbacks for patients, protecting access to care and reducing financial penalties.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

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in committee · United States · House May 14, 2026

HR 8840: Fair Care Act of 2026

The Fair Care Act of 2026 is a comprehensive legislative proposal designed to lower health care costs and improve access by modernizing health savings accounts, expanding insurance coverage options, and increasing transparency in the health care market. The bill directly affects individuals, employers, health insurance issuers, hospitals, and pharmaceutical manufacturers through provisions that allow unused premium tax credits to be deposited into savings accounts, introduce new "copper" insurance plans, and require greater price transparency for hospitals and pharmacy benefit managers. Key mechanisms include the repeal of the employer health insurance mandate, the establishment of a federal reinsurance pool for high-risk individuals, the creation of a conditional approval pathway for drugs treating rare and serious diseases, and the imposition of congressional review procedures for major Food and Drug Administration rules. Additionally, the legislation seeks to promote competition by banning anticompetitive contract terms, regulating co-pay contributions from drug manufacturers, and enforcing stricter price reporting requirements for shoppable medical procedures.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allows unused premium tax credits to be deposited into savings accounts, providing tax relief and financial support to individuals.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill aims to lower costs, improve access, and expand coverage options, directly supporting healthcare goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

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in committee · United States · House Jun 25, 2026

HR 9455: SMOOTH Payments Act

The SMOOTH Payments Act modifies federal tax rules to allow health insurance plans that offer a specific payment option to qualify for subsidies, whereas currently only catastrophic plans are excluded. Under this proposal, eligible plans would let enrollees choose between paying zero cost-sharing at the time of service or paying monthly, capped amounts instead. This change directly affects individuals enrolled in qualified health plans by expanding the range of plans that can receive financial assistance starting in 2027. The bill aims to simplify out-of-pocket expenses by enabling a new payment structure similar to existing capitated models.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands subsidy eligibility to more health plans, improving access and financial support for enrollees.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · United States · House Jun 30, 2026

HR 9432: LIFT the BAR Act

The LIFT the BAR Act aims to restore access to federal benefits for lawfully present noncitizens by repealing several restrictions imposed by the 1996 welfare reform law and a 2024 reconciliation bill. Specifically, it would allow eligible noncitizens to receive SNAP food assistance, Medicaid, CHIP, and child nutrition programs, while also updating legal terminology to refer to "noncitizens" rather than "aliens" in relevant statutes. The legislation includes provisions to ensure these individuals can qualify for premium tax credits and would require federal agencies to issue implementation guidance within 180 days of enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicaid and CHIP access for eligible noncitizens, directly increasing healthcare coverage and patient access.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill restores federal benefits for lawfully present noncitizens and updates terminology to 'noncitizens', directly supporting immigrant access to services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Insurance Medicaid

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in committee · United States · House Jun 29, 2026

HR 9509: Kidney Disease Education Access Expansion Act of 2026

The Kidney Disease Education Access Expansion Act of 2026 expands Medicare coverage to include kidney disease education services for individuals with hypertension, diabetes, or any stage of chronic kidney disease, rather than limiting them to those with advanced disease. This bill broadens the range of eligible providers to include community health workers and clinical social workers, allows these services to be delivered in group settings or with caregivers present, and adds new topics such as transition assistance for transplant recipients. Starting in 2027, the law also requires private health insurance plans to cover these education services and establishes a working group to develop methods for measuring the effectiveness of the program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicare coverage and broadens eligible providers for kidney disease education, improving patient access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

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in committee · United States · House Jun 25, 2026

HR 9396: Prior Authorization Accountability Act

The Prior Authorization Accountability Act requires health insurance plans and issuers to publicly report detailed data on their prior authorization processes starting in 2027. This includes submitting information on approval and denial rates, appeal outcomes, processing times, and the specific use of artificial intelligence or other automated technologies in making coverage decisions. The bill mandates that these reports be available on public websites for both individual and group coverage, allowing consumers to compare how different plans handle requests for medical services. Additionally, the legislation updates the Affordable Care Act to ensure that health plans sold through insurance exchanges display this new transparency data to help shoppers make informed choices.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enhances transparency in prior authorization processes, protecting patient rights and improving access to care by mandating public reporting of approval rates and AI usage.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates public reporting on AI use in healthcare, promoting transparency and consumer protection in automated technology decisions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · United States · House Jun 25, 2026

HR 9397: Premium Transparency Act

The Premium Transparency Act requires health insurers and Medicare Advantage organizations to publicly disclose how they spend premium revenue, specifically detailing the percentages allocated to claims, overhead costs, and retained profits. Starting in 2027, these companies must publish this data in a consumer-friendly format on their websites for each plan they offer, allowing individuals to compare financial transparency across different coverage options. Additionally, the bill mandates that the government issue standardized guidance by 2028 to ensure key plan details, such as deductibles, out-of-pocket limits, and specific care costs, are presented in plain English. A further provision updates online plan comparisons to include this new financial data beginning in 2029, aiming to help consumers make more informed decisions about their health insurance.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates transparency in insurance spending to empower consumers and improve market competition, directly supporting patient rights and informed healthcare choices.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare Tags Government Transparency

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in committee · United States · House Jun 11, 2026

HR 9257: Primary and Behavioral Health Care Access Act of 2026

The Primary and Behavioral Health Care Access Act of 2026 requires group health plans to cover three primary care visits and three behavioral health care visits per year without charging copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance. This mandate applies to plans governed by ERISA, the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code, affecting employees, retirees, and individuals with employer-sponsored or individual health insurance. The bill defines primary care visits as in-person appointments with designated providers like general practitioners or nurse practitioners, while behavioral health visits include services from a wider range of specialists such as psychologists and social workers. Additionally, the law ensures that these specific visits are subject to the same reimbursement rates and treatment limitations as any other covered medical service. These provisions would take effect for plan years beginning two years after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates coverage for primary and behavioral health visits without cost-sharing, directly improving patient access and strengthening healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Insurance Primary Care

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in committee · United States · House Jun 2, 2026

HR 9107: Patient Choice and Access Act of 2026

The Patient Choice and Access Act of 2026 would allow health insurance plans starting in 2027 to operate without requiring a network of doctors and hospitals. This change directly affects individuals enrolled in qualified health plans by permitting them to see any provider that accepts the plan's payment rates, rather than being restricted to a specific list of in-network providers. To ensure consumers understand their coverage, the bill mandates that these plans clearly explain potential out-of-pocket costs and offer tools to help members find participating providers. Additionally, the legislation updates federal rules to prevent the government from penalizing plans that choose not to maintain a provider network.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands patient access by allowing plans to operate without provider networks, enabling individuals to see any provider accepting payment rates.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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