ACCESS Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6420
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-04: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-06T15:24:46Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 6420: Affordable Care Economic Stability and Small Business Act (ACCESS Act)
Purpose
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to create a federal definition for short-term limited duration insurance, aiming to support access to temporary, affordable health coverage options, particularly for small businesses and individuals facing gaps in coverage during life transitions such as job changes.
Key Provisions
- Definition of short-term limited duration insurance: Adds a new category in Section 2791(b) of the Public Health Service Act, specifying that such coverage must have an expiration date less than 12 months from the original start date and a total duration of no more than 3 years, including any renewals or extensions.
- Guaranteed renewability rules: Amends Section 2703 to extend existing renewability protections to these plans, treating them similarly to individual market coverage. Issuers must offer renewability unless the enrollee opts out at the time of application, with the contract required to document this choice.
- Effective date: The changes apply only to contracts for this type of insurance that begin on or after the bill's enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces the first explicit statutory definition of short-term limited duration insurance, which previously lacked a uniform federal standard.
- Extends federal guaranteed renewability requirements (previously limited to certain group and individual market plans) to short-term plans, while allowing consumer choice to forgo renewability.
- These updates modify how the Public Health Service Act classifies and regulates certain health coverage products.
Potential Impacts
- On citizens and small businesses: May increase availability of flexible, lower-cost coverage options for temporary needs, helping workers and employers manage rising health care expenses during employment transitions.
- On government agencies: Could require the Department of Health and Human Services and state regulators to adjust oversight, enforcement, and consumer protections for these newly defined plans.
- On international relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Small business owners seeking portable coverage options.
- Individual consumers transitioning between health plans.
- Health insurance issuers offering these products.
- Federal and state health regulators responsible for plan compliance.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal implications: Establishes clearer federal parameters for insurance products that may operate outside some Affordable Care Act requirements, potentially affecting how courts or agencies interpret coverage obligations.
- Constitutional implications: Operates within Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce through amendments to existing public health statutes, with no apparent challenges to core constitutional provisions.
- Political implications: Focuses on expanding market choices for affordable coverage, which may influence ongoing debates about health care access and regulation at the federal level.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12], Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-04: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-12-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Affordable Care Economic Stability and Small Business Act — issued 2025-12-04 — PDF (4 pages)