# 119-s-976: Insurance Fraud Accountability Act

119-s-976, Insurance Fraud Accountability Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-976
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-976
- Congress: 119
- Title: Insurance Fraud Accountability Act
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-03-12
- Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR)
- Cosponsors: 11
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-17

## Summary

**Tougher enforcement against fraudulent ACA enrollments.** This bill would sharply increase penalties for bad actor agents and brokers, require verification and documented consent for broker-led enrollments, and give HHS new authority over field and third-party marketing groups. - Consumers and families: New enrollment checks must include documented consent, clear notices and a consumer website or hotline. Plans cannot disenroll people without their consent and commissions are withheld until inconsistencies are resolved. - Agents, brokers, FMOs and TPMOs: Negligent false information can trigger civil fines of $10,000 to $50,000 per affected person. Knowing violations can carry civil fines up to $200,000 per person and criminal penalties including fines and up to 10 years in prison. Firms face registration, marketing review, duty-of-best-interest rules, and limits on referral pay. - Issuers, exchanges and states: Issuers must report terminations to HHS. The Secretary may audit enrollment patterns, coordinate with states and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and share lists of suspended or terminated agents with plans and exchanges.

## Cosponsors (11)

- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-03-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-03-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-03-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] (D-WA), 2025-03-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-03-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (D-NH), 2025-03-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-03-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2025-03-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-03-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-11-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA] (D-GA), 2026-03-17T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Consumer protections for agent enrollments: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would require HHS to verify enrollments and coverage changes submitted by agents who would earn a commission. This would apply for plan years the Secretary sets but no later than January 1, 2029. Agents would need documented consumer consent before enrollment and could not be p…
- Audits and reporting for agents: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Secretary would set up audits and oversight of agents and brokers for plan years beginning on or after a date the Secretary sets, but not later than January 1, 2029. Audits could follow consumer complaints or suspicious enrollment patterns. The Secretary would share audit results wi…
- Rules for agents and marketing groups: benefit, medium. If enacted, HHS would set minimum standards for agents, brokers, field marketing organizations, and third-party marketing firms for plan years the Secretary sets, but not later than January 1, 2029. Rules would require acting in enrollees' best interests, reporting agent terminations and reasons, f…
- Large fines for fraudulent agents: cost, medium. If enacted, agents and brokers who give wrong enrollment information could face big civil and criminal penalties. Negligent errors could bring fines of $10,000 to $50,000 per affected person. Knowingly false information could bring fines up to $200,000 per person. Knowing and willful fraud could al…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act

## Sources
- [119-s-976 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/976)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2295)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-976 (as of 2026-10-17).