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

WASHINGTON - Speaker Johnson, Leader Scalise, Whip Emmer, Chairwoman McClain, and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks released a statement after House Republicans today passed 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. Every House Democrat voted against this legislation, which would lower premiums for all Americans by more than 11% and save taxpayers $30 billion in the process.

"Today, House Republicans voted to lower health care costs for all Americans. Every House Democrat voted against it. After months of empty 'affordability' rhetoric and forcing the longest government shutdown in American history, Democrats once again rejected a valuable, common-sense solution to address the unaffordability they created with their own health insurance law - the Unaffordable Care Act.

"House Republicans are taking meaningful action to fix what Democrats broke. For too long, Democrats have forced hardworking American taxpayers to bail out big health insurance companies for hundreds of billions of dollars. Meanwhile, Americans are left paying for increasingly expensive care with fewer choices, lower quality, and worse health outcomes. They broke America's health care system and with today's vote, Democrats have abandoned a critical opportunity to fix their own failed law.

"The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act puts patients first. It does exactly what its title promises and more: lowers premium costs, expands access to affordable, quality care, gives every American more options and flexibility to choose coverage that is best for their needs, and brings greater transparency to the health care system. It delivers twice the cost reduction of the Democrats' temporary, COVID-era enhanced subsidies and brings those costs down for ALL Americans - not just some. House Republicans are working to fix what is broken, restore integrity in our nation's health care system, and lower the cost of health care for every citizen."

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans 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.