Health Care Choice and Affordability Act

To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to allow States with Exchanges with low-insurer participation to offer a Medicaid buy-in plan, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited at the Health Care Choice and Affordability Act 2. Medicaid buy-in plans (a) In general (1) Offering on an Exchange For a plan year beginning on or after January 1, 2018, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a Medicaid buy-in State may offer to eligible individuals with respect to a plan year a Medicaid buy-in plan in the individual market through an Exchange established under title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for such plan year. (2) Premium rates (A) In general A Medicaid buy-in State that offers a Medicaid buy-in plan under paragraph (1) shall establish premium rates under such plan at a level calculated to produce revenue equal to the sum of— (i) the costs of health benefits provided by the plan; plus (ii) 10 percent of the administrative costs related to operating the plan. (B) Prohibiting discriminatory premiums In the case of a Medicaid buy-in plan, premiums may only vary to the extent permitted under section 2701(a)(1) of the Public Health Service Act. (3) Enrollment The enrollment period for a Medicaid buy-in plan offered under paragraph (1) shall, to the extent practicable, conform with the enrollment period for qualified health plans offered through an Exchange. (4) Federal payment for administrative expenses In the case of a Medicaid buy-in State that offers a Medicaid buy-in plan under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall pay to such State for each calendar quarter beginning on or after January 1, 2018, an amount equal to 90 percent of so much of the sums expended during such quarter as are attributable to administering the Medicaid buy-in plan in such State. (b) Premium tax credits (1) In general Section 36B (h) Application to individuals purchasing Medicaid coverage In the case of any individual enrolled in a Medicaid buy-in plan subsection (a) shall be applied by substituting for premium assistance credit amount of the taxpayer for the taxable year the lesser of— (1) the monthly premiums charged by a Medicaid buy-in State for a Medicaid buy-in plan that covers the taxpayer, the taxpayer’s spouse, or any dependent (as defined in section 152) of the taxpayer, or (2) the excess (if any) of— (A) such monthly premium, over (B) an amount equal to 1/12 of the product of the applicable percentage and the taxpayer’s household income for the taxable year. . . (2) Exception for minimum essential coverage Subparagraph (B) of section 36B(c)(2) or eligibility for coverage under a Medicaid buy-in plan (as defined in section 2(c) of the Health Care Choice and Affordability Act) (3) Individual mandate Clause (ii) of section 5000A(f)(1)(A) including under a Medicaid buy-in plan (as defined in section 2(c) of the Health Care Choice and Affordability Act) (4) Advance payment of credit (A) In general Advance determinations and payments of premium tax credits allowable under section 36B (B) Coordination with credit Section 36B(f) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) Medicaid buy-in plans For purposes of this subsection, advance payments under section 2(b)(4)(A) of the Health Care Choice and Affordability Act shall be treated as advance payments under section 1412 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. . (5) Conforming amendment relating to employer responsibility Section 4980H(c)(6) , except that for purposes of subsections (a)(2) and (b)(1)(B), the term qualified health plan such Act (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible individual The term eligible individual 42 U.S.C. 300gg–91 (2) Medicaid buy-in State The term Medicaid buy-in State Public Law 111–148 (3) Medicaid buy-in plan The term Medicaid buy-in plan (A) is administered by the State agency administering the State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 (B) consists of benchmark coverage described in subsection (b)(1) of section 1937 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396u–7(b)(1) (4) Qualified health plan The term qualified health plan 42 U.S.C. 18021

Summary: Health Care Choice and Affordability Act This bill allows a state to offer a Medicaid buy-in option for qualifying individuals on health insurance exchanges, if the state has at least one political subdivision in which fewer than two health insurers participate in such exchanges.