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

This bill makes two main changes to healthcare law. First, it creates an exemption from the requirement to have health insurance for people living in counties where fewer than two insurance companies offer plans through the health insurance marketplace. Currently, the Affordable Care Act requires most Americans to maintain health coverage or pay a penalty. Under this bill, if you live in an area where there's essentially only one insurance option (or none), you wouldn't have to buy insurance and wouldn't face a penalty for going without coverage. This addresses a real problem in rural and underserved areas where insurance companies don't compete, leaving residents with very limited choices.

The second part of the bill is about fairness for Congress members and their staff. Right now, members of Congress and congressional employees can buy health insurance through the same marketplace as regular Americans, but they receive government contributions to help pay for it—a benefit most workers don't get. This bill would eliminate that government contribution for Congress members, their staff, the President, the Vice President, and political appointees. They could still buy insurance through the marketplace, but they'd have to pay the full cost themselves without government help. The bill also prevents these government officials from receiving tax credits or cost-sharing assistance that regular lower-income Americans might qualify for, meaning they'd pay more out of pocket than similarly situated private citizens.

In practical terms, this bill would give relief to people in insurance deserts while requiring federal officials to follow the same rules as ordinary Americans when it comes to buying health insurance. The first part helps people in underserved areas avoid penalties, while the second part removes special perks that Congress members currently enjoy.

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.