H.R.114 - Responsible Path to Full Obamacare Repeal Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 114, the "Responsible Path to Full Obamacare Repeal Act," seeks to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on January 3, 2025, and referred to multiple committees for consideration. The repeal would be effective October 1, 2025, restoring the laws as they existed before the enactment of the ACA and the Reconciliation Act.
Expected Effects
If enacted, this bill would eliminate the ACA and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. This would likely result in significant changes to the healthcare landscape, potentially affecting health insurance coverage, healthcare costs, and access to medical services for millions of Americans. The specific effects would depend on whether and how Congress replaces the ACA with alternative legislation.
Potential Benefits
- Potentially lower taxes or premiums for some individuals if the ACA's taxes and regulations are deemed costly.
- Increased choice of insurance plans if the ACA's regulations are seen as limiting options.
- Reduced government spending if the ACA is considered fiscally unsustainable.
- Elimination of mandates that some individuals or employers find objectionable.
- Potential for market-based healthcare reforms to emerge in place of the ACA.
Potential Disadvantages
- Loss of health insurance coverage for millions of Americans who gained it under the ACA.
- Rollback of protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions.
- Increased healthcare costs for some individuals, particularly those who benefited from the ACA's subsidies.
- Potential destabilization of the health insurance market.
- Loss of preventive care services that were mandated by the ACA.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutionality hinges on Congress's power to repeal existing laws, which is generally accepted under Article I, Section 1. However, legal challenges could arise based on arguments related to the Fifth Amendment (due process) if the repeal is deemed to deprive individuals of vested rights or benefits without adequate justification. The bill itself does not appear to violate any specific constitutional provision on its face, but its effects could raise constitutional concerns depending on how it impacts different segments of the population.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).