# Plain Language Summary: Protection from Obamacare Mandates and Congressional Equity Act

This bill makes two main changes to health insurance rules. First, it creates an exemption from the requirement to have health insurance for people living in areas where there's very limited insurance competition. Specifically, if you live in a county where fewer than two insurance companies are offering plans through the health insurance marketplace, you would no longer be required to have health coverage. Currently, most people are required to maintain some form of health insurance or pay a penalty. This exemption would apply to anyone in those limited-choice areas, meaning they could go without insurance without facing a tax penalty.

The second part of the bill addresses what many see as an unfair advantage given to members of Congress and their staff. Currently, Congress members and their staff can buy health insurance through the same marketplace available to regular Americans, but they also receive government contributions to help pay for their premiums—essentially a subsidy that other people don't get. This bill would eliminate that government contribution for members of Congress, the President, the Vice President, and political appointees in the executive branch. It would also prevent these officials from receiving tax credits or cost-sharing assistance beyond what similarly situated regular Americans would receive. Additionally, members of Congress would lose the ability to decide which of their staff members get to participate in the marketplace program.

The practical effect is that Congress members and top executive officials would have to pay more out of pocket for their health insurance, while people in rural or underserved areas with few insurance options would gain relief from the requirement to carry coverage.

Protection from Obamacare Mandates and Congressional Equity Act

Biggs, Andy

Protection from Obamacare Mandates and Congressional Equity Act This bill alters provisions relating to the requirement to maintain minimum essential health care coverage (i.e., the individual mandate), as well as provisions relating to health care coverage for certain executive branch and congressional employees. Specifically, the bill exempts individuals from the requirement to maintain minimum essential health care coverage if they reside in a county where fewer than two health insurers offer insurance on the health insurance exchange. Under current law, there is no penalty for failing to maintain minimum essential health care coverage. The bill also requires certain executive branch and congressional employees to participate in health insurance exchanges. Under current law, Members of Congress and their designated staff are required to obtain coverage through health insurance exchanges, rather than the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. Current regulations authorize government contributions toward such coverage and require Members of Congress to designate which members of their staff are required to obtain coverage through an exchange. The bill requires all congressional staff, including employees of congressional committees and leadership offices, to obtain coverage through an exchange. The bill also prohibits Members of Congress from having the discretion to determine which of their employees are eligible to enroll through an exchange. Further, the President, Vice President, and executive branch political appointees must also obtain coverage through exchanges, rather than FEHB. The government is prohibited from contributing to or subsidizing the health insurance coverage of the officials and employees subject to this requirement, including Members of Congress and their staff.