Tiffany Statement on Vote to Lower Health Care Premiums

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) issued the following statement after voting for H.R. 6703, the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act.

"Democrats promised you when they passed the Unaffordable Care Act that you could keep your doctor, keep your plan, and pay less. None of that was true. Since Obamacare’s passage, premiums have nearly tripled and deductibles have doubled. To cover up those failures, Democrats poured billions into pandemic-era subsidies, even for households making up to $500,000, which padded the profits of big insurance companies."

"Those subsidies are now expiring under a deadline Democrats set themselves. The pandemic is over, and bailing out insurers again is not the solution. It’s giving people choice, transparency, and competition so they can pick truly affordable plans that fit their needs. Today’s bill does exactly that by lowering premiums, eliminating hidden prescription drug costs, and expanding affordable options for every American."

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act: 

Lowers Premiums for all Americans

• Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency: Requires PBMs to provide employers with detailed data on prescription drug spending, rebates, spread pricing, and formulary decisions, empowering plans and workers with the transparency they deserve.
• Appropriates Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSR) Payments: Provides necessary funding for CSR payments beginning in 2027, lowering premiums and stabilizing the individual market while ensuring taxpayer dollars are used responsibly. Relief would be better directed towards low-income enrollees that need them.
• Lowers Premium Costs: According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) cost estimate, enacting H.R. 6703 would reduce the deficit by $35.6 billion over the 2026-2035 budget window. Additionally, CBO estimates this bill would reduce gross benchmark premiums by 11 percent.

Improves Health Care Options for America’s Workers

• Association Health Plans: Expands access to Association Health Plans (AHPs) by allowing employers, including self-employed workers, to band together across industries to purchase affordable, high-quality coverage.
• Access to Stop-Loss Insurance: Ensures small and mid-sized employers can protect themselves from catastrophic claims by clarifying that stop-loss insurance is not “health insurance coverage.” This would allow small businesses to offer their employees more tailored, affordable care.
• CHOICE Arrangements: Codifies and strengthens the 2019 rules allowing employers to provide defined contributions that employees can use to purchase their own health insurance. These contributions, known as CHOICE Arrangements, are a type of Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) and allow employees to buy coverage with pre-tax dollars, lowering costs and expanding choice.

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