Increasing Access to Care Act

Bill: 115-s-1976
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2017-10-17
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance

Health care coverage and access

Insurance industry and regulation
Latest action: action_date: 2017-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-10-17
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Increasing Access to Care Act</strong></p> <p>This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to eliminate restrictions on who may purchase catastrophic health plans.</p> <p> Catastrophic health plans do not cover any benefits, other than three primary care visits per year, before the deductible is met; such plans are generally characterized by lower premiums and higher deductibles. Currently, only individuals who are younger than 30 years of age or who have a hardship exemption may purchase such plans. </p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1976 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 17, 2017 Mr. Scott (for himself, Mr. Carper , Mr. Cassidy , and Mr. Warner ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To allow all individuals purchasing health insurance in the individual market the option to purchase a lower premium copper plan.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Increasing Access to Care Act . 2. Allowing all individuals purchasing health insurance in the individual market the option to purchase a lower premium copper plan (a) In general Section 1302(e) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( 42 U.S.C. 18022(e) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly; (B) by striking plan year if— and all that follows through the plan provides— and inserting plan year if the plan provides— ; and (C) in subparagraph (A), as so redesignated, by striking clause (ii) and inserting subparagraph (B) ; (2) by striking paragraph (2); and (3) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2). (b) Risk pools Section 1312(c)(1) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( 42 U.S.C. 18032(c)(1) ) is amended by inserting and including enrollees in catastrophic plans described in section 1302(e) after Exchange . (c) Conforming amendment Section 1312(d)(3)(C) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( 42 U.S.C. 18032(d)(3)(C) ) is amended by striking , except that in the case of a catastrophic plan described in section 1302(e), a qualified individual may enroll in the plan only if the individual is eligible to enroll in the plan under section 1302(e)(2) . (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2019.