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H.R. 9455House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

SMOOTH Payments Act

Sponsored by Aaron BeanRep. Aaron Bean (R-FL)
Introduced June 25, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated June 30, 2026 at 8:39 AM UTC

The SMOOTH Payments Act changes the rules for who can receive the premium tax credit. It limits the credit to people who enroll in qualified health plans from insurers that offer at least one plan with a monthly cost‑sharing payment option (zero upfront cost and capped monthly payments). The bill also continues to exclude catastrophic plans and will take effect for tax years starting after 2026.

Key Provisions

  • Amends the Internal Revenue Code to add a new eligibility requirement: a qualified health plan must be offered by an insurer that provides at least one plan allowing enrollees to pay $0 at the point of service and then make monthly, capped cost‑sharing payments.
  • Keeps catastrophic plans excluded from the premium tax credit eligibility.
  • Specifies that the monthly payment caps should be similar to those in the Social Security Act or any method the HHS Secretary prescribes.
  • Sets the effective date for these changes to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

June 25, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 25, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

June 25, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 25, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9455

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 25, 2026

Mr. Bean of Florida (for himself and Mr. Alford) 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 limit eligibility for the premium tax credit to individuals enrolled in qualified health plans offered by health insurance issuers that offer at least one qualified health plan which provides the option to make monthly cost-sharing payments, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Simplified Medical Out-of-pocket Obligations Through Hassle-free Payments Act or the SMOOTH Payments Act.

2.

Smoothing out-of-pocket costs for qualified health plan enrollees

(a)

In general

Section 36B(c)(3)(A)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking shall not include a qualified health plan which is a catastrophic plan described in section 1302(e) of such Act. and inserting

shall not include—

(I)

any qualified health plan which is a catastrophic plan described in section 1302(e) of such Act, or

(II)

any qualified health plan offered by a health insurance issuer that does not offer at least one qualified health plan which provides to each individual enrolled in such plan the option to elect to—

(aa)

pay $0 in cost-sharing at the time that such individual is furnished an item or service for which benefits are available under the plan, and

(bb)

pay cost-sharing under the plan in monthly amounts which are capped in a manner similar to the manner provided in subparagraph (E) of section 1860D–2(b)(2) of the Social Security Act, or in any other manner prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

.

(b)

Effective date

The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.