SMOOTH Payments Act
Sponsored By: Representative Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would change who can get the premium tax credit (PTC) by linking eligibility to the kinds of plans an insurer offers. The core idea is to make the PTC available only when an issuer offers at least one qualified health plan that lets enrollees pay $0 at the point of service and instead spread cost sharing into a capped monthly payment.
Show full summary
- Families and enrollees: People enrolled in a plan from an issuer that does not offer the required monthly cost‑sharing option could lose access to the PTC. The rule would apply for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026, affecting 2027 and later.
- Health insurers and plan designers: Issuers would need to offer at least one qualified health plan with a zero point‑of‑service option and an explicit monthly cost‑sharing cap to preserve their enrollees' PTC eligibility. The Secretary of Health and Human Services may approve alternative methods for capping monthly costs.
- Coverage scope: Catastrophic plans remain a separate excluded category and would not be made eligible by this change.
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Tighter marketplace premium tax credit rules
If enacted, this bill would narrow who can claim the premium tax credit for marketplace health plans. It would exclude catastrophic plans from counting for the credit. It would also deny credit eligibility for plans from any issuer that does not offer at least one plan letting each enrollee pay $0 at the point of service and letting cost-sharing be paid in monthly amounts with a monthly cap similar to a cap in the Social Security Act or another method the HHS Secretary prescribes. These rules would apply for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026. If your issuer’s plans fail the test, you could lose premium tax credits and pay more for coverage.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4]
FL • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4]
MO • R
Sponsored 6/25/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov