I
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3851
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 10, 2014
Mr. Lance introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To repeal sections 1341 and 1342 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
No Bailouts for Insurance Industry Act of 2014
.
Findings; purpose
Findings
Congress finds the following:
According to the most recent United States Census, employer-based health insurance is the largest source of health insurance coverage in the United States. Of those employed, 70 percent receive employment-based health insurance. Of unemployed Americans, 30 percent receive employer-sponsored health insurance.
Despite the large percentages of coverage, as health care costs climb, the percentage of Americans who receive health insurance through employers has fallen significantly over the last decade—from 70 percent nationwide in 2000 to 60 percent in 2011, according to a report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
According to recent surveys done by the National Business Group on Health and the Kaiser Family Foundation, most companies continue to provide health insurance for employees and wish to continue doing so into the future.
Employers that offer insurance will not contribute additional risk to the Health Insurance Exchanges established in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (in this Act referred to as PPACA).
The transitional reinsurance program, established in section 1341 of PPACA, is intended to stabilize risk in the individual health insurance market during the first three years of the Health Insurance Exchanges, as established by that Act.
PPACA also requires that the Treasury collect a fee for each employer-sponsored covered life in order to pay for the transitional reinsurance program.
This fee is a disincentive for employers to continue offering coverage to all employees, and does not give employers any benefits of the transitional reinsurance program.
Purpose
It is the purpose of this Act to remove the current funding mechanism for the transitional reinsurance program in order that employer-sponsored insurance is supported so that Americans can sustain quality health coverage.
Repeal of sections 1341 and 1342 of PPACA
Repeal of section 1341
In general
Section 1341 of PPACA ( 42 U.S.C. 18061 ) is repealed.
Effective date
The repeal of such section shall apply to plan years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Application
In applying such section before the effective date of such repeal—
any reference in such section to the 3-year period beginning January 1, 2014
or to the 36-month period beginning January 1, 2014
is deemed a reference to the period beginning January 1, 2014, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act;
with respect to the amounts specified in clauses (iii) and (iv) of subsection (b)(3)(B) of such section, the amounts for 2014 shall be reduced in a pro-rata manner to reflect only the portion of 2014 occurring before the date of the enactment of this Act and no amounts shall be provided for periods after such date;
in applying subsection (b)(4)(A) of such section, amounts collected may only be used for 2014 and, notwithstanding subsection (b)(4)(B) of such section, amounts remaining unexpended as of December 2014 shall be returned, in a pro rata manner, to health insurance issuers making contributions under such section; and
the reference in subsection (c)(1)(A) of such section to the first 3 years of operation shall be deemed a reference to the period of operation ending not later than December 31, 2014.
Construction
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as affecting the authority of a State, without regard to section 1341 of PPACA, to implement reinsurance programs with respect to health insurance coverage offered in the State.
Repeal of section 1342
In general
Section 1342 of PPACA ( 42 U.S.C. 18062 ) is repealed.
Effective date
The repeal made by paragraph (1) shall apply to calendar years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
