Kiley Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Extend Obamacare Tax Credits

WASHINGTON — District 3 Congressman Kevin Kiley, a Republican, and Congressman Sam Liccardo, a Democrat representing California District 16, have jointly introduced legislation, titled the Fix It Act, to extend health insurance tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as Obamacare, for another two years. Disagreement over how to address an expected increase in the cost of ACA insurance next year has been a major barrier to resolving the federal government shutdown.

Kiley and Liccardo’s bill is intended to avoid a dramatic spike in insurance premiums while limiting cost to the government. It would cap eligibility for the tax credits at 6 times the poverty level while tightening rules on payments to insurance companies that provide private Medicare Advantage plans and preventing fraud by insurance brokers who sell ACA plans.

Kiley said in a press release, “Our bipartisan legislation will assure Americans are spared from a massive increase in healthcare costs that is just around the corner...and does so in a fiscally responsible way – without increasing the deficit.” “This will provide short-term relief while we tackle broader reforms to lower the cost of care,” he added. “Our bill offers a unique, innovative solution...We have Republicans and Democrats ready to get this done— let’s fix this, together,” Liccardo said.