HOPE Act

Section 36B(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—

(1) by redesignating subclauses (I) and (II) as items (aa) and (bb), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly,

(2) by striking Temporary percentages for 2021 through 2025.—In the case of and inserting

(2) Temporary percentages for certain years.—

In the case of

(2) , and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

In the case of a taxable year beginning after December 31, 2025, and before January 1, 2028—

(aa) clause (ii) shall not apply for purposes of adjusting premium percentages under this subparagraph, and

(bb) the following table shall be applied in lieu of the table contained in clause (i):

(bb) In the case of household income (expressed as a percent of poverty line) within the following income tier: The initial premium percentage is- The final premium percentage is- Up to 150% 0.0% 0.0% 150% up to 200% 0.0% 2.0% 200% up to 250% 2.0% 4.0% 250% up to 300% 4.0% 6.0% 300% up to 400% 6.0% 8.5% 400% up to 600% 8.5% 8.5% 600% up to 800% 8.5% 9.0% 800% up to 935% 9.0% 9.35%

Section 36B(c)(1)(E) of such Code is amended—

(1) by striking Temporary rule for 2021 through 2025.—In the case of and inserting

(1) Temporary rule for certain years.—

In the case of

(1) , and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

In the case of a taxable year beginning after December 31, 2025, and before January 1, 2028, subparagraph (A) shall be applied by substituting but does not exceed 935 percent for but does not exceed 400 percent.

The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Section 1411(h)(1) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18081(h)(1)) is amended—

(A) in subparagraph (A)—

(i) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iv);

(ii) in clause (i)—

(I) in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking If— and all that follows through the such person in the matter following subclause (II) and inserting the following: If any person (other than an agent or broker) fails to provide correct information under subsection (b) and such failure is attributable to negligence or disregard of any rules or regulations of the Secretary, such person; and

(II) in the second sentence, by striking For purposes and inserting the following:

For purposes

(iii) by inserting after clause (i) the following:

If any agent or broker fails to provide correct information under subsection (b) or section 1311(c)(8) or other information, as specified by the Secretary, and such failure is attributable to negligence or disregard of any rules or regulations of the Secretary, such agent or broker shall be subject, in addition to any other penalties that may be prescribed by law, including subparagraph (C), to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and not more than $50,000 with respect to each individual who is the subject of an application for which such incorrect information is provided.

(iii) ; and

(iv) in clause (iv) (as so redesignated), by inserting or (ii) after clause (i);

(B) in subparagraph (B)—

(i) by inserting including subparagraph (C), after law,;

(ii) by striking Any person and inserting the following:

Any person

(ii) ; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

Any agent or broker who knowingly provides false or fraudulent information under subsection (b) or section 1311(c)(8), or other false or fraudulent information as part of an application for enrollment in a qualified health plan offered through an Exchange, as specified by the Secretary, shall be subject, in addition to any other penalties that may be prescribed by law, including subparagraph (C), to a civil penalty of not more than $200,000 with respect to each individual who is the subject of an application for which such false or fraudulent information is provided.

The provisions of section 1128A of the Social Security Act (other than subsections (a) and (b) of such section) shall apply to a civil monetary penalty under subclause (I) in the same manner as such provisions apply to a penalty or proceeding under section 1128A of the Social Security Act.

(iii) ; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

Any agent or broker who knowingly and willfully provides false or fraudulent information under subsection (b) or section 1311(c)(8), or other false or fraudulent information as part of an application for enrollment in a qualified health plan offered through an Exchange, as specified by the Secretary, shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both.

Section 1311(c) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18031(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

For plan years beginning on or after such date specified by the Secretary, but not later than January 1, 2029, in the case of an Exchange that the Secretary operates pursuant to section 1321(c)(1), the Secretary shall establish a verification process for new enrollments of individuals in, and changes in coverage for individuals under, a qualified health plan offered through such Exchange, which are submitted by an agent or broker in accordance with section 1312(e) and for which the agent or broker is eligible to receive a commission.

The enrollment verification process under subparagraph (A) shall include—

(i) a requirement that the agent or broker provide with the new enrollment or coverage change such documentation or evidence (such as a standardized consent form) or other sources as the Secretary determines necessary to establish that the agent or broker has the consent of the individual for the new enrollment or coverage change;

(ii) a requirement that any commissions due to a broker or agent for such new enrollment or coverage change are paid after the enrollee has resolved all inconsistencies in accordance with paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 1411(e);

(iii) a requirement that the information required under clause (i) and, as applicable, the date on which inconsistencies are resolved as described in clause (ii), is accessible to the applicable qualified health plan through a database or other resource, as determined by the Secretary, so that any commissions due to a broker or agent for such enrollment can be effectuated at the appropriate time;

(iv) a requirement that individuals are notified of any changes to enrollment, coverage, the agent of record, or premium tax credits in a timely manner and that such notice provides plain language instructions on how individuals can cancel unauthorized activity;

(v) a requirement that individuals be able to access their account information on a website or other technology platform, as defined by the Secretary, when used to submit an enrollment or plan change, in lieu of the Exchange website described in subsection (d)(4)(C), including information on the agent of record, the qualified health plan, and when any changes are made to the agent of record or the qualified health plan, on a consumer-facing website or through a toll-free telephone hotline; and

(vi) a requirement that the agent or broker report to the Secretary any third-party marketing organization or field marketing organization (as such terms are defined in section 1312(e)) involved in the chain of enrollment (as so defined) with respect to such new enrollment or coverage change.

The Secretary shall ensure that the enrollment verification process under subparagraph (A) prioritizes continuity of coverage and care for individuals, including by not disenrolling individuals from a qualified health plan without the consent of the individual, regardless of whether the broker, agent, or qualified health plan is in violation of any requirement under this paragraph.

Section 1311(c)(1) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18031(c)(1)) is amended—

(i) in subparagraph (H), by striking and at the end;

(ii) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

(J) report to the Secretary the termination (as defined in section 1312(e)(1)(C)) of an issuer.

Section 1312(e) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18032(e)) is amended—

(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;

(B) in subclause (II) (as so redesignated), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and;

(C) by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through brokers— and inserting the following:

The Secretary shall establish procedures under which a State may allow—

(i) agents or brokers—

(C) ; and

(D) by adding at the end the following:

(ii) field marketing organizations and third-party marketing organizations to participate in the chain of enrollment for an individual with respect to qualified health plans offered through an Exchange.

For plan years beginning on or after such date specified by the Secretary, but not later than January 1, 2029, the Secretary, by regulation, shall establish criteria for States to use in determining whether to allow agents and brokers to enroll individuals and employers in qualified health plans as described in subclause (I) of subparagraph (A)(i) and to assist individuals as described in subclause (II) of such subparagraph and field marketing organizations and third-party marketing organizations to participate in the chain of enrollment as described in subparagraph (A)(ii). Such criteria shall, at a minimum, require that—

(i) an agent or broker act in accordance with a standard of conduct that includes a duty of such agent or broker to act in the best interests of the enrollee;

(ii) a field marketing organization or third-party marketing organization agree to report the termination of an agent or broker to the applicable State and the Secretary, including the reason for termination; and

(iii) an agent, broker, field marketing organization, or third-party marketing organization—

(I) meet such marketing requirements as are required by the Secretary;

(II) meet marketing requirements in accordance with other applicable Federal or State law;

(III) does not employ practices that are confusing or misleading, as determined by the Secretary;

(IV) submit all marketing materials to the Secretary for, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, review and approval;

(V) is a licensed agent or broker or meets other licensure requirements, as required by the State;

(VI) register with the Secretary; and

(VII) does not compensate any individual or organization for referrals or any other service relating to the sale of, marketing for, or enrollment in qualified health plans unless such individual or organization meets the criteria described in subclauses (I) through (VI).

In this paragraph:

The term chain of enrollment, with respect to enrollment of an individual in a qualified health plan offered through an Exchange, means any steps taken from marketing to such individual, to such individual making an enrollment decision with respect to such a plan.

The term field marketing organization means an organization or individual that directly employs or contracts with agents and brokers, or contracts with carriers, to provide functions relating to enrollment of individuals in qualified health plans offered through an Exchange as part of the chain of enrollment.

The term marketing means the use of marketing materials to provide information to current and prospective enrollees in a qualified health plan offered through an Exchange.

The term marketing materials means materials relating to a qualified health plan offered through an Exchange or benefits offered through an Exchange that—

(I) are intended—

(aa) to draw an individual’s attention to such plan or the premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions for such plan or plans offered through an Exchange;

(bb) to influence an individual’s decision-making process when selecting a qualified health plan in which to enroll; or

(cc) to influence an enrollee’s decision to stay enrolled in such plan; and

(II) include or address content regarding the benefits, benefit structure, premiums, or cost sharing of such plan.

The term termination, with respect to a contract or business arrangement between an agent or broker and a field marketing organization, third-party marketing organization, or health insurance issuer, means—

(I) the ending of such contract or business arrangement, either unilaterally by one of the parties or on mutual agreement; or

(II) the expiration of such contract or business arrangement that is not replaced by a substantially similar agreement.

The term third-party marketing organization means an organization or individual that is compensated to perform lead generation, marketing, or sales relating to enrollment of individuals in qualified health plans offered through an Exchange as part of the chain of enrollment.

Section 1312(e) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18032(e)), as amended by paragraph (3), is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

For plan years beginning on or after such date specified by the Secretary, but not later than January 1, 2029, the Secretary, in coordination with the States and in consultation with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, shall implement a process for the oversight and enforcement of agent and broker compliance with this section and other applicable Federal and State law (including regulations) that shall include—

(i) periodic audits of agents and brokers based on—

(I) complaints filed with the Secretary by individuals enrolled by such an agent or broker in a qualified health plan offered through an Exchange;

(II) an incident or enrollment pattern that suggests fraud; and

(III) other factors determined by the Secretary; and

(ii) a process under which the Secretary shall share audit results and refer potential cases of fraud to the relevant State department of insurance.

Nothing in this paragraph limits or restricts any referrals made under section 1311(i)(3) or any enforcement actions under section 1411(h).

The Secretary shall develop a process to regularly provide to qualified health plans, Exchanges, and States a list of suspended and terminated agents and brokers.

Section 1311(c) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18031(c)), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, and on a quarterly basis thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct a check of the Death Master File (as such term is defined in section 203(d) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013) for purposes of identifying individuals enrolled in a qualified health plan through an Exchange who are deceased.

The Secretary shall—

(i) establish a process to verify that an individual identified pursuant to a check described in subparagraph (A) is deceased; and

(ii) require an Exchange to terminate such individual’s enrollment under a qualified health plan.

Section 1312(e) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18032(e)), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

In the case of an agent or broker with an agreement in effect with an Exchange operated by the Secretary pursuant to section 1321(c) to perform activities described in paragraph (1)(A)(i) with respect to such Exchange, the Secretary may terminate such agreement for cause if the Secretary finds, based on a preponderance of the evidence, that such agent or broker has violated such agreement, otherwise applicable law, or any other requirement applicable to such agent or broker.

Section 1412(c)(2) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18082(c)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

Beginning January 1, 2027, if an Exchange is notified under paragraph (1) of an advance determination under section 1411 with respect to the eligibility of an individual for a premium tax credit under section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Exchange shall, prior to enrolling such individual in a qualified health plan, clearly notify such individual of the amount of such tax credit.