GLUESENKAMP PEREZ CO-LEADS BIPARTISAN BILL TO PREVENT ACA PREMIUM SPIKES AND PROTECT AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE

The following information was released by the office of Washington Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez :

Today, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) joined Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Tom Suozzi (NY-02), Don Bacon (NE-02), Jared Golden (ME-02), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Donald G. Davis (NC-01), and Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) to introduce the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act.

"I'm glad to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to bring down health care costs. Nobody wants to shell out more cash to insurance companies or PBM middlemen," said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. "At the same time, we can't lose sight of the fact that national health doesn't come from insurance coverage it hinges on people having good jobs, being able to sleep 8 hours a night, cook real food and see their kids at night. Affordable healthcare and medicine are imperative and worth the fight, but a strong nation is longer work."

Specifically, the legislation would do the following:

Extend enhanced premium tax credits through 2027, to protect families from abrupt monthly cost increases.

Stop unauthorized plan and subsidy changes by requiring consent and prompt notification before any modifications take effect.

End hidden spread pricing, sever PBM profits from drug prices, and require full rebate pass-through to ensure savings reach patients.

Expand access to Health Savings Accounts and simplify premium payments to reduce disruptions in coverage.

Modernize eligibility and introduce a reasonable minimum contribution to protect long-term affordability and responsible stewardship of federal dollars.

"From the outset, I committed to delivering a bipartisan solution to prevent devastating premium spikestoday, we are doing exactly that. Our bill keeps the ACA's premium tax credits in place, so families are not blindsided with unaffordable increases in the care they depend on," said Fitzpatrick. "This is a practical, people-first fix that protects families now, while preserving the space to keep working toward a stronger, smarter, more affordable healthcare system. When the stakes are this high, responsible governance means securing 80 percent of what families need today rather than risking 100 percent of nothing tomorrow. We built this the right waywith input from across the aisle and across chamberswith the clearest pathway to the President's desk. We're ready to get this done, and we call on our colleagues to step up, join us, and put American families, not political messaging, first."

"The expiration of the ACA Premium Tax Credits on 12/31/25 would create an avoidable crisis for millions of Americans who will face an explosion of their healthcare premiums. We need a bipartisan solution now, and we must battle against the petty partisan interests that put politics above people. Simply put, while this bill is not perfect, it is a short-term, reasonable solution that prevents catastrophic premium spikes. If enacted, we must use the reprieve to craftlong-term reforms to lower healthcare costs in the long run: incentivizing preventative care, lowering drug prices, and cracking down on wasteful bureaucracy and abuse in our system. To get there, we must work together now, and act with the urgency this moment demands,"said Suozzi.

"I'm glad we're moving the debate forward on extending and reforming the Affordable Care Act subsidies. I've made clear to my colleagues on both sides that Congress needs a smart, bipartisan agreement that prevents our constituents' health insurance premiums from skyrocketing,"said Bacon."That's why I worked with Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Jared Golden, Tom Suozzi, Rob Bresnahan, and Don Davisto introduce the Bipartisan Health Coverage Affordability Act, another reasonable compromise that extends the enhanced premium tax credits for two years and applies new income caps and fraud protections. This may not be the final package Congress adopts, but it's a responsible compromise that can help break the gridlock and protect families from higher costs."

"We have known for months that there is no way for either party to address the looming health care cliff alone. It's long past time that members and leaders in Congress come together to prevent catastrophic coverage price spikes for millions of Americans," said Golden."The Bipartisan Health Coverage Affordability Actpreserves the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits for the families who need them most, implements sensible income caps to reduce costs and better target benefits and cracks down on prescription drug middlemen. This moment requires leaders to abandon their partisan corners and govern. Our bill provides a path out of gridlock and toward solutions."

"Congress must act swiftly to bring certainty and reduce anxiety. We must promote greater accountability and ensure families do not lose vital health coverage or face bankruptcy due to medical emergencies," said Davis.

"Families across Northeastern Pennsylvania have expressed that affordability is a key concern in our healthcare system," said Bresnahan. "This bipartisan effort to extend ACA tax credits has the potential to help working families keep more money in their pockets and maintain the coverage they rely on."