Bill · S. 3368· Senate(119-S-3368)
Restoring Patient Protections and Affordability Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 12/4/2025
- Last activity
- 12/4/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Lisa Blunt Rochester
- Cosponsors
- - 8 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Restoring Patient Protections and Affordability Act of 2025 aims to improve patient protections and affordability under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It extends temporary enhanced premium credits and the annual open enrollment period for the 2026 plan year. The bill restores the Navigator program with specific funding for federal exchanges. Additionally, it implements new notice requirements for health insurance issuers and establishes rules to prevent bureaucratic coverage denials. Finally, it includes measures for market stabilization, such as preventing health plan gouging and protecting enrollees from premium spikes.
Yes· 3 of 25
Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act?+8
The bill significantly strengthens the ACA by extending premium credits, restoring the Navigator program, and increasing marketplace flexibility.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+7
The bill extends premium credits and adds special enrollment flexibility specifically for those at or below 150% of the poverty line.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+7
Extending the open enrollment period and restoring Navigator funding makes it easier for people to obtain and understand coverage.
The opposite
Would business owners be better off under this?-2
Health insurance issuers may face new compliance costs and civil penalties due to increased notice and reporting requirements.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Extended Financial Assistance: The bill extends temporary enhanced premium credits through the 2028 tax year, which helps maintain affordability for taxpayers (Sec. 101).
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Extended Enrollment Window: The annual open enrollment period for the 2026 plan year is extended through May 1, 2026, providing more time for individuals to find coverage (Sec. 102).
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Increased Support for Navigation: The bill restores the Navigator program by obligating $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 to assist with federal exchanges (Sec. 103).
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Improved Communication: Health insurance issuers would be required to notify enrollees about changes to eligibility and premium assistance credits for plan years 2025 and 2026 (Sec. 201, Sec. 202).
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Easier Plan Upgrades: The bill allows for automatic enrollment from bronze level qualified health plans to silver level qualified health plans on Exchanges (Sec. 303).
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Greater Marketplace Flexibility: A monthly special enrollment period is established for individuals eligible for premium tax credits whose household income is not expected to exceed 150 percent of the poverty line (Sec. 401).
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Prevention of Price Gouging: The bill revises regulations regarding the variation in the actuarial value of health plans to prevent gouging (Sec. 402).
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Improved Coverage Continuity: An Exchange may only determine an enrollee ineligible for an advance premium tax credit after a taxpayer has failed to file a Federal income tax return and reconcile for two consecutive years (Sec. 403).
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Protection from High Bills: The bill places a limit on the amount of increase for taxpayers whose household income is less than 400 percent of the poverty line, protecting them from surprise premium bills (Sec. 404).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Financial Penalties for Issuers: Health insurance issuers may face civil monetary penalties of $1,000 per day for failing to meet notice or reporting requirements (Sec. 204).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+7Good For Middle Class Households+5Good For People With Disabilities+5Good For L G B T Q Community+4Good For Men+4Good For Middle Aged+4Good For Students+4Good For Women+4Good For Young Adults+4Good For African Americans+3Good For Asian Americans+3Good For Hispanic Americans+3Good For Native Americans+3Good For Retirees+3Good For White Americans+3Good For Business Owners-2
- Healthcare
- Increases Affordable Care Act Support+8Improves Healthcare Access+7Reduces Private Insurance Premiums+6
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+6Reduces Middle Class Taxes+5Improves Economic Growth+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+5Improves Government Transparency+4Increases Federal Power+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+4
- 1/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/16/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/8/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 12/4/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Charles SchumerDemocrat · New York
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon