H.R. 1870House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Family Health Care Affordability Act of 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 3:14 AM UTC

The Family Health Care Affordability Act of 2019 amends the Internal Revenue Code to make health insurance more affordable for working families. It changes the definition of “affordable” coverage, setting a threshold that an employee’s required contribution cannot exceed 9.5% of household income. The rule applies to both the employee’s own coverage and coverage for family members under employer‑sponsored plans. The changes take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020.

Key Provisions

Sets the affordability threshold at 9.5% of an employee’s household income for self‑only coverage, meaning coverage is unaffordable if the employee’s required contribution exceeds that amount
Applies the same 9.5% threshold to family coverage, so coverage for dependents is also considered unaffordable if the family contribution exceeds 9.5% of household income
Updates related language in the tax code’s affordability clauses to reflect the new definition for both employees and family members
Effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020

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 Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

March 26, 2019

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 26, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

March 26, 2019

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued March 26, 2019

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1870

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 26, 2019

Ms. Wild (for herself, Ms. Sánchez, and Mr. Luján) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand affordability of health insurance for working families.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Family Health Care Affordability Act of 2019.

Expand affordability for working families

(a)

In general

Clause (i) of section 36B(c)(2)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:

(i)

Coverage must be affordable

(I)

Employees

An employee shall not be treated as eligible for minimum essential coverage if such coverage consists of an eligible employer-sponsored plan (as defined in section 5000A(f)(2)) and the employee’s required contribution (within the meaning of section 5000A(e)(1)(B)) with respect to the plan exceeds 9.5 percent of the employee’s household income.

(II)

Family members

An individual who is eligible to enroll in an eligible employer-sponsored plan (as defined in section 5000A(f)(2)) by reason of a relationship the individual bears to the employee shall not be treated as eligible for minimum essential coverage by reason of such eligibility to enroll if the employee’s required contribution (within the meaning of section 5000A(e)(1)(B), determined by substituting family for self-only) with respect to the plan exceeds 9.5 percent of the employee’s household income.

(b)

Conforming amendments

(1)

Clause (ii) of section 36B(c)(2)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking Except as provided in clause (iii), an employee and inserting An individual.

(2)

Clause (iii) of section 36B(c)(2)(C) of such Code is amended by striking the last sentence of clause (i) and inserting clause (i)(II).

(3)

Clause (iv) of section 36B(c)(2)(C) of such Code is amended by striking the 9.5 percent under clause (i)(II) and inserting the 9.5 percent under clauses (i)(I) and (i)(II).

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020.