HOPE Act would extend premium tax credits for two years
WASHINGTON – Colorado Republican Rep. Jeff Hurd along with three other House members revealed their plans for the HOPE Act.
The Bipartisan Healthcare Optimization, Protection, and Extension (HOPE) Act is one of several proposals by Congress members to address the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits on Dec. 31. It would extend premium tax credits for enrollees earning less than 600% of the federal poverty level. It would also add “the strongest guardrails ever applied to the ACA (Affordable Care Act) Exchanges,” according to Hurd.
“The HOPE Act is a practical, bipartisan solution that maintains affordability, enhances transparency, and improves accountability while Congress works toward long-term reforms that will make our health-care system more stable and more affordable,” Hurd said in a news release. “I will continue working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pursue responsible, commonsense solutions that put families first.”
The guardrails in the bill aim to crack down on broker fraud and includes measures in the Insurance Fraud Accountability Act – another proposed piece of legislation – to prevent “ghost beneficiaries” by directing regular checks against the federal Death Master File, a database kept by the Social Security Administration containing records of individuals who have died.
The bill would also establish a “preponderance of evidence” standard of proof to determine when an agent or broker should be allowed to continue operating in the ACA marketplaces, as well as require that marketplaces better notify recipients of the value of premium tax credits they are receiving from the federal government.
Co-introduced by Don Bacon, R-Neb., Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., and Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y.), Hurd said the HOPE Act provides a “temporary and responsible” extension of current premium tax credits so families don’t see sudden cost spikes.
“I would say the cost of health care and health care premiums is not a Republican issue, it’s not a Democratic issue. I don’t care how red or blue your district is,” Hurd told reporters outside the Capitol on Nov. 21. “This is something that your constituents care about. I’m proud to be with great colleagues on the Republican side and on the Democratic side in advancing this important proposal.”
Abigail Hatting is an intern for The Durango Herald and The Journal in Cortez and a senior at American University in Washington, D.C. She can be reached at ahatting@durangoherald.com.
Copy article link
