HEALTH Act

Bill Number

H.R. 6050

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Taxation

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-11-17: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Last Updated

2026-01-21T16:01:59Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The HEALTH Act (H.R. 6050) aims to make health insurance more affordable for more Americans by extending certain tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), while offsetting the costs through cuts to foreign aid. It balances increased domestic spending on healthcare subsidies with reductions in international assistance.

Key Provisions

• Short Title: The bill is officially named the "Helping Every American Lower Their Healthcare Act" or "HEALTH Act."
• Extension of Premium Tax Credits (Section 2):
• Removes the income limit (previously 400% of the federal poverty line) for eligibility to claim the premium tax credit, allowing higher-income households to qualify temporarily.
• Increases the amount of premium assistance (subsidies that reduce monthly health insurance premiums) beyond current levels.
• These extensions apply to tax years starting after December 31, 2025, but are temporary: they end on an "applicable date" set by the Secretary of the Treasury, ensuring the total cost (increased spending plus lost revenue) does not exceed savings from other parts of the bill.
• Estimates for this date must align with methods used by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Joint Committee on Taxation for fiscal impact assessments.
• Rescission of Funds for Argentina Aid (Section 3):
• Immediately cancels any unspent (unobligated) funds previously allocated for U.S. assistance to Argentina, effective upon the bill's enactment.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends Section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code (1986), which governs the ACA's premium tax credit—a refundable tax credit that helps eligible individuals and families buy health insurance through marketplaces like HealthCare.gov.
• Previously, credits were unavailable for households earning over 400% of the poverty line (about $58,320 for an individual or $120,000 for a family of four in 2023), and enhanced subsidy amounts were set to expire after 2025.
• The bill extends these benefits without a fixed end date initially but ties their duration to budget neutrality via the foreign aid cut, replacing the prior expiration of "for 2021 through 2025" with a cost-offset mechanism.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Expands access to subsidized health insurance for middle- and upper-middle-income Americans (over 400% poverty line), potentially lowering out-of-pocket premium costs and increasing enrollment in ACA plans. This could reduce uninsured rates and improve financial security for healthcare.
• On Government Agencies: The IRS will administer expanded tax credits, increasing workload but with built-in fiscal controls. The State Department or USAID may see reduced flexibility in foreign aid programs due to the rescission of Argentina-specific funds.
• On International Relations: Cuts unspent U.S. aid to Argentina (potentially economic, development, or humanitarian support), which could strain bilateral ties if Argentina relies on such assistance, though the impact is limited to unobligated amounts (funds not yet committed).

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Individuals and Families: Particularly those with moderate to higher incomes seeking ACA marketplace coverage, who gain extended subsidies.
• Healthcare Providers and Insurers: Benefit from higher enrollment and stable premiums due to broader subsidies.
• U.S. Taxpayers: Face no net cost increase, as healthcare extensions are funded by rescinding foreign aid.
• Argentine Government and Citizens: Lose access to unspent U.S. aid, potentially affecting ongoing projects or economic support.
• Federal Agencies: IRS (tax credit processing), Treasury Department (fiscal estimates), and foreign aid entities (fund rescission).

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Ensures compliance with budget rules by mandating cost-neutrality, similar to Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) requirements under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, preventing automatic spending cuts elsewhere. The temporary nature avoids permanent entitlement expansions without offsets.
• Constitutional: No direct challenges; falls under Congress's taxing and spending powers (Article I, Section 8).
• Political: Sponsored by Democratic representatives, it links popular domestic health policy (extending ACA benefits) to reducing foreign spending, potentially appealing to fiscal conservatives while advancing progressive goals. Referred to Ways and Means (taxes) and Appropriations (spending) committees, indicating bipartisan scrutiny on budget impacts. If enacted, it could influence midterm election debates on healthcare affordability versus foreign aid priorities.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]

Cosponsors (7)

Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large], Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34]

Recent Actions

• 2025-11-17: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-11-17: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-11-17: Introduced in House
• 2025-11-17: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Helping Every American Lower Their Healthcare Act — issued 2025-11-17 — PDF (4 pages)