Bill · S. 3599· Senate(119-S-3599)
Affordable CHOICE Act
- Introduced
- 1/8/2026
- Last activity
- 1/8/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Sheldon Whitehouse
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Affordable CHOICE Act," seeks to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It directs the Secretary to establish a "public health insurance option" to be offered through the Exchanges starting January 1, 2027. This option is intended to provide affordable, high-quality coverage through bronze, silver, and gold plans. The Secretary is tasked with designing the plan to ensure value, choice, and competition without compromising access to care. The plan includes provisions for negotiating provider rates and establishing a specific account in the Treasury for its operation.
Yes· 3 of 11
Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act?+5
The bill amends the Affordable Care Act to establish a new public health insurance option through the existing exchange system.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+5
The bill directs the Secretary to create an affordable health plan to improve overall coverage stability and choice.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+5
The bill focuses on creating affordable, high-quality health insurance plans through the public option.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Choice and Competition: The Secretary is directed to provide a public health insurance option that provides value, choice, and competition (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Affordable Coverage: The primary responsibility of the Secretary is to create an affordable health plan (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Access to Care: The Secretary is tasked with creating the plan without compromising quality or access to care (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Health Equity: The Secretary is required to collect data to help reduce racial, ethnic, and other disparities in health and health care (Section 2(b)(4)).
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Consistent Provider Participation: Providers participating in Medicare or Medicaid are automatically considered participating providers in this new option unless they specifically opt out (Section 2(d)(2)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Administrative Requirements: The Secretary may enter into contracts for administrative functions, which involves managing the operation of the public health insurance option (Section 2(b)(2)(A)).
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Negotiation of Rates: Reimbursement rates for health care providers and prescription drugs are subject to negotiation by the Secretary (Section 2(c)(2)(A) and (B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+5Increases Affordable Care Act Support+5Reduces Prescription Drug Costs+4Reduces Private Insurance Premiums+4
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Middle Class Households+4Good For African Americans+3Good For Hispanic Americans+3Good For Urban Residents+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+4
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+3
- 1/8/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat · Michigan