{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://sewell.house.gov/2025/5/sewell-and-figures-introduce-legislation-to-cover-alabamians-caught-in-the-medicaid-coverage-gap", "Sewell and Figures Introduce Legislation to Cover Alabamians Caught in the Medicaid Coverage Gap", "2025-05-08", "2025", "2025-05", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri A. Sewell", "S001185", "sewell.house.gov", "sewell", "https://sewell.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Bill would provide a temporary health care option for those in the coverage gap until non-expansion states like Alabama finally expand Medicaid\n\nWashington D.C. \u2013 U.S. Reps. Terri Sewell (AL-07) and Shomari C. Figures (AL-02) introduced the Bridge to Medicaid Act to finally provide health insurance to the more than 100,000 Alabamians in the coverage gap. The legislation would provide a temporary health care option for people in the Medicaid coverage gap until non-expansion states like Alabama finally expand Medicaid.\n\n\u201cImproving access to quality, affordable health care is one of my top priorities in Congress,\u201d said Rep. Sewell. \u201cBecause of the refusal by the State of Alabama to expand Medicaid, more than 100,000 low-income Alabamians who would otherwise qualify for health insurance coverage are being forced to go without care, putting their health and their lives at risk. If the State of Alabama won't expand access to health care for our underserved communities, we in the federal government must take action. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to join Congressman Figures in introducing the Bridge to Medicaid Act which would help thousands of Alabamians see a doctor, obtain medications, and afford life-saving care.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlabama\u2019s failure to expand Medicaid has left more than 100,000 hardworking people\u2014many of them in my district\u2014without access to affordable, quality health care,\u201d said Rep. Figures. \u201cThis bill will provide relief to people who would have health care coverage if Alabama would simply expand Medicaid, as 40 other states have already done.\u201d\n\nThe Bridge to Medicaid Act would extend subsidies to individuals who are in the coverage gap and who cannot afford insurance on the Marketplace for 3 years. Individuals in non-expansion states making between 100 percent and 138 percent of the federal poverty level would also qualify for these subsidies and enhanced plans.\n\nCoverage details:\n\nBeginning in 2026, current Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies would be available to those below 138 percent of the federal poverty level.\n\nIn the first year, those under 138 percent of the federal poverty level would be eligible for plans with reduced deductibles and cost-sharing (defined as a 94 percent actuarial value).\n\nIn 2027 and 2028, these individuals would be eligible for further reductions in cost-sharing charges (plans would have a 99 percent actuarial value) so they can better afford to get care.\n\nContinuous enrollment applies \u2013 once an individual is deemed eligible based on income, they can enroll at any time during the year.\n\nThe Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for existing expansion populations in expansion states would be enhanced by 3 percent (from 90 percent to 93 percent) for the duration of the coverage gap policy (from 2026-2028).\n\nSince coming to Congress, Rep. Sewell has championed federal efforts to expand health care access for Americans caught in the coverage gap, including the more than 100,000 Alabamians. In 2022, she led her colleagues of the New Democrat Coalition in a letter urging congressional leadership to close the coverage gap by enhancing Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits. She has also sponsored legislation to create a Medicaid-like program in non-expansion states.\n\nBill text is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://sewell.house.gov/2025/5/sewell-and-figures-introduce-legislation-to-cover-alabamians-caught-in-the-medicaid-coverage-gap"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6560459733009338, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}