H.R. 6050House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Increasing Access to Care Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 10:16 PM UTC

The Increasing Access to Care Act would change the Affordable Care Act so that anyone buying health insurance on the individual market could choose a lower‑cost “copper” (catastrophic) plan. It also adds people in those plans to the insurance risk pools and updates related language. The changes would apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2019 and affect individuals purchasing coverage through the exchanges.

Key Provisions

Amends the ACA’s Section 1302(e) to allow all individuals in the individual market to select a lower‑premium copper (catastrophic) plan.
Adds enrollees in catastrophic copper plans to the ACA’s risk pools under Section 1312(c)(1).
Updates related eligibility language in Section 1312(d)(3)(C) to match the new copper‑plan option.
Sets the effective date of these changes for plan years starting on or after January 1, 2019.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

June 8, 2018

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 8, 2018

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

June 8, 2018

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued June 8, 2018

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6050

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 8, 2018

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

A BILL

To allow all individuals purchasing health insurance in the individual market the option to purchase a lower premium copper plan.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Increasing Access to Care Act.

Allowing all individuals purchasing health insurance in the individual market the option to purchase a lower premium copper plan

(a)

In general

Section 1302(e) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18022(e)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1)—

(A)

by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;

(B)

by striking plan year if— and all that follows through the plan provides— and inserting plan year if the plan provides—; and

(C)

in subparagraph (A), as so redesignated, by striking clause (ii) and inserting subparagraph (B);

(2)

by striking paragraph (2); and

(3)

by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2).

(b)

Risk pools

Section 1312(c)(1) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18032(c)(1)) is amended by inserting and including enrollees in catastrophic plans described in section 1302(e) after Exchange.

(c)

Conforming amendment

Section 1312(d)(3)(C) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18032(d)(3)(C)) is amended by striking , except that in the case of a catastrophic plan described in section 1302(e), a qualified individual may enroll in the plan only if the individual is eligible to enroll in the plan under section 1302(e)(2).

(d)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2019.