S. 1976Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Increasing Access to Care Act

Sponsored by Tim ScottSen. Tim Scott (R-SC)
Introduced October 17, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 6:32 PM UTC

The Increasing Access to Care Act modifies the Affordable Care Act to let anyone purchasing health insurance on the individual market buy a lower‑cost, high‑deductible “copper” plan. By redefining eligibility and including these plans in the risk pool, the bill aims to expand affordable coverage options for consumers. The changes would become active for plan years beginning in 2019.

Key Provisions

  • Changes the ACA’s definition of who can buy a low‑premium “copper” (catastrophic) plan so that any adult buying insurance on the individual market can choose one.
  • Adds people who enroll in these copper plans to the ACA’s risk‑pool calculations, treating them like other exchange enrollees.
  • Removes a previous restriction that limited enrollment in catastrophic plans to only certain qualified individuals.
  • Sets the changes to take effect for plan years starting on or after January 1, 2019.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

October 17, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

October 17, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

October 17, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued October 17, 2017

II

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1976

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

October 17, 2017

Mr. Scott (for himself, Mr. Carper, Mr. Cassidy, and Mr. Warner) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

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

1.

Short title

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

2.

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.