Restoring Essential Plan Coverage Act
Sponsored By: Senator Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would restore premium tax credits for lawfully present noncitizens and let states expand Basic Health Program eligibility up to 250% of the federal poverty line. It also would create a targeted premium tax credit rule for certain lawfully present people who are not eligible for Medicaid because of their immigration status.
Show full summary
- Would restore premium tax credit (PTC) eligibility for lawfully present noncitizens and treat the prior limiting amendment as if it had not been enacted. The restoration would be applied retroactively to the point tied to Public Law 119-21.
- Would allow certain lawfully present aliens who are ineligible for Medicaid because of their immigration status to be treated as having household income equal to 100% of the federal poverty line for PTC purposes when their actual income does not exceed 100% FPL. This special rule would apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.
- Would let states opt to raise the Basic Health Program maximum income from 200% FPL to a state-chosen level up to 250% FPL. That option would apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Restore premium tax credits for immigrants
If enacted, the bill would repeal an earlier change in Public Law 119-21 that limited premium tax credit access for lawfully present people. That repeal would restore premium tax credit rules for affected lawfully present noncitizens retroactively. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, the bill would also treat certain lawfully present taxpayers as eligible for the premium tax credit if their household income is not greater than 100 percent of the poverty line and they are ineligible for Medicaid because of their immigration status. For those taxpayers, the bill would treat household income as equal to 100 percent of the poverty line when applying the credit rules.
States can expand Basic Health to 250%
If enacted, the bill would let each State choose a Basic Health Program income limit between 200 percent and 250 percent of the federal poverty line. That change would apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027. Households with income above 200 percent but within a State's chosen limit could become eligible for Basic Health Program coverage.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 9/30/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov