House Republicans Release Legislation to Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans

WASHINGTON - House Republicans today released the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act - legislation that lowers health care premiums, increases health care access, expands health care choices, and brings greater transparency to America's health care system. The legislation will be considered in the House next week.

"Nearly 15 years ago, the Democrats' Unaffordable Care Act broke the American health care system. Since its inception, premium costs have skyrocketed, networks have shrunk, and the system has become bloated, inefficient, and riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse. While Democrats demand that taxpayers write bigger checks to insurance companies to hide the cost of their failed law, House Republicans are tackling the real drivers of health care costs to provide affordable care, increase access and choice, and restore integrity to our nation's health care system for all Americans," Speaker Johnson said.

"Earlier this year, Democrats had a chance to help make life more affordable by supporting the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation. Instead, they voted to raise taxes, protect waste and fraud, and continue providing free health care to illegal immigrants. Democrats' 'affordability' charade has gone on long enough. Republicans are offering clear, responsible alternatives that will lower premium costs and increase access and health care options for all Americans. The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act will actually deliver affordable health care - and we look forward to advancing it through the House."

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Act:

Lowers Premiums for all Americans

• Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency: Requires PBMs to provide employers with detailed data on prescription drug spending, rebates, spread pricing, and formulary decisions-empowering plans and workers with the transparency they deserve.

• Appropriates Cost Sharing Reduction Payments: Provides necessary funding for CSR payments beginning in 2027, lowering premiums and stabilizing the individual market while ensuring taxpayer dollars are used responsibly. Relief would be better directed towards low-income enrollees that need them.

Improves Health Care Options for America's Workers

• Association Health Plans: Expands access to Association Health Plans by allowing employers-including self-employed workers-to band together across industries to purchase affordable, high-quality coverage.

• Access to Stop-Loss Insurance: Ensures small and mid-sized employers can protect themselves from catastrophic claims by clarifying that stop-loss insurance is not "health insurance coverage." This would allow small businesses to offer their employees more tailored, affordable care.

• CHOICE Arrangements: Codifies and strengthens 2019 rules allowing employers to offer defined contributions for employees to purchase their own coverage-renamed as CHOICE arrangements-and permits employees to pay premiums pre-tax.

Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act HERE.