releases: http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-sponsors-legislation-to-close-obamacare-loophole-preventing
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-sponsors-legislation-to-close-obamacare-loophole-preventing | Cramer Sponsors Legislation to Close Obamacare Loophole Preventing Charities and Churches from Paying for People's Health Care Costs | 2015-11-25 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Republican | House | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | cramer.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C.Congressman Kevin Cramer today announced he introducedHR 3742,the Access to Marketplace Insurance Act.The bi-partisan bill specifically allowsnon-profits, civic groups, and churches to help pay health insurance premiums for individuals and families. Under Obamacare, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) released an interim final rule which gave authority to insurers offering plans on the Exchanges to deny non-profit charities from providing premium assistance. The Affordable Care Actprovides federal subsidies to purchase health care policies, but the CMS rule prevents other groups from doing the same for individuals and families in need. Because many patients with rare diseases and catastrophic illnesses usethis program to pay for their health insurance premiums, the rule puts in jeopardy the policies they purchased. The legislation is co-sponsored by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX),Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL), Congressman Gerald Connolly (D-VA), Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA),CongressmanRob Wittman (R-VA),CongressmanSteve Stivers (R-OH),CongressmanMarcy Kaptur (D-OH), andCongressmanAnn Kirkpatrick (D-AZ).View the billhere. Obamacare uses tax dollars to provide subsides to low-income citizens to purchase health care insurance but it allows states to ban non-profits, civic groups and churches from doing the same. That is wrong, and this bill removes the handcuffs from private charities, allowing them to assist insured patients who need help paying their premiums without fear of breaking the law, said Cramer. The law already compels insurance companies to accept premium assistance from the Affordable Care Act, Indian Tribes, and State or federal programs. Individual Americans should also have the right to organize and do the same through their charity of choice. We need to allow charities to be charitable. Congressman Cramer addresses a Congressional Briefing in Support of HR 3742, the Access to Marketplace Insurance Act. At left is Eric Dolby of North Carolina, a longtime kidney dialysis patient who supports the bill. Earlier this week, the American Kidney Fund and Patient Services Inc. expressed their support for Cramers legislation. View a copy of their press release here. Since the release of the interim final rule, plans in 37 states have announced a prohibition against allowing non-profits, civic groups and churches to help pay for health insurance premiums for individuals and families. Following is a complete list of the 37 states and health care providers: Alabama UnitedHealthcare Arizona Assurant Health (2015)exiting Marketplace in 2016 UnitedHealth Care Arkansas Assurant Health (2015)exiting Marketplace in 2016 UnitedHealthcare (2016) California Unitedhealthcare Colorado UnitedHealth Care Connecticut UnitedHealth Care Florida Assurant Health 2015exiting market in 2016 UnitedHealth Care Georgia Assurant Health 2015exiting market in 2016 UnitedHealthcare Idaho Pacific Source Illinois Assurant Health--2015exiting market in 2016 UnitedHealthcare Indiana Assurant Health--2015exiting market in 2016 UnitedHealthcare Kansas UnitedHealthcare Kentucky UnitedHealthcare Louisiana Blue Cross & Blue Shield UnitedHealthcare Maryland UnitedHealthcare Massachusetts UnitedHealthcare Michigan Assurant Health (2015)exiting market in 2016 UnitedHealthcare Mississippi UnitedHealthcare Missouri UnitedHealthcare Montana Assurant Health-2015exiting market in 2016 PacificSource Nebraska Assurant Health--2015exiting market in 2016 Blue Cross & Blue Shield UnitedHealthcare Nevada UnitedHealthcare New Hampshire Assurant Health-2015exiting market in 2016 New Jersey UnitedHealthcare New York UnitedHealthcare North Carolina Blue Cross and Blue Shield UnitedHealthcare Aetna Ohio Assurant Health 2015exiting market in 2016 Medical Mutual UnitedHealthcare Oklahoma Assurant Health (2015)exiting Marketplace in 2016 Blue Cross/Blue Shield (2016) UnitedHealthcare (2016) Oregon Moda Health Lifewise Health PacificSource Pennsylvania Assurant Health 2015exiting market in 2016 Unitedhealthcare Rhode Island UnitedHealthcare South Carolina Assurant Health 2015exiting market in 2016 Blue Cross & Blue Shield Tennessee Assurant Health 2015exiting market in 2016 Texas UnitedHealthcare Virginia UnitedHealthcare Washington Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield UnitedHealthcare Wisconsin UnitedHealthcare ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |