H.R. 3258 – Marketplace Certainty Act

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM UTC

The Marketplace Certainty Act amends the Affordable Care Act to increase the amount of cost‑sharing reductions for people whose household income is between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty line. It raises the portion of allowed health‑care costs that the insurance plan must cover to 95% for incomes 100‑200%, 90% for 200‑300%, and 85% for 300‑400%. The changes apply to plan years starting after December 31, 2017 and are funded from Treasury money not otherwise appropriated.

Key Provisions

Increases cost‑sharing reductions so plans must cover 95% of allowed costs for enrollees with incomes 100‑200% of the poverty line, 90% for 200‑300%, and 85% for 300‑400%.
Specifies that these reductions cannot cause a plan’s share of costs to exceed the new percentages for each income group.
Applies the new cost‑sharing rules to plan years beginning after December 31, 2017.
Provides Treasury funding for any payments needed under the new cost‑sharing provisions.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H6046)

July 20, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 14, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

July 14, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H6046)

July 20, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 14, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3258

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 14, 2017

Mr. Ruiz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to improve cost sharing subsidies.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Marketplace Certainty Act.

2.

Enhancements for reduced cost sharing

(a)

Modification of amount

(1)

In general

Section 1402(c)(2) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18071(c)(2)) is amended to read as follows:

(2)

Additional reduction

The Secretary shall establish procedures under which the issuer of a qualified health plan to which this section applies shall further reduce cost-sharing under the plan in a manner sufficient to—

(A)

in the case of an eligible insured whose household income is not less than 100 percent but not more than 200 percent of the poverty line for a family of the size involved, increase the plan’s share of the total allowed costs of benefits provided under the plan to 95 percent of such costs;

(B)

in the case of an eligible insured whose household income is more than 200 percent but not more than 300 percent of the poverty line for a family of the size involved, increase the plan’s share of the total allowed costs of benefits provided under the plan to 90 percent of such costs; and

(C)

in the case of an eligible insured whose household income is more than 300 percent but not more than 400 percent of the poverty line for a family of the size involved, increase the plan’s share of the total allowed costs of benefits provided under the plan to 85 percent of such costs.

.

(2)

Conforming amendment

Clause (i) of section 1402(c)(1)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 18071(c)(1)(B)) is amended to read as follows:

(i)

In general

The Secretary shall ensure the reduction under this paragraph shall not result in an increase in the plan’s share of the total allowed costs of benefits provided under the plan above—

(I)

95 percent in the case of an eligible insured described in paragraph (2)(A);

(II)

90 percent in the case of an eligible insured described in paragraph (2)(B); and

(III)

85 percent in the case of an eligible insured described in paragraph (2)(C).

.

(3)

Effective date

The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to plan years beginning after December 31, 2017.

(b)

Funding

Section 1402 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18071) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(g)

Funding

Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary for payments under this section.

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