H.R.2079 - Insurance Fraud Accountability Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.2079, the Insurance Fraud Accountability Act, aims to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) to reduce fraudulent enrollments in qualified health plans. The bill introduces penalties for agents and brokers who provide incorrect or fraudulent information during the enrollment process. It also establishes consumer protections and verification processes for enrollments assisted by agents or brokers.
Expected Effects
The bill seeks to enhance the integrity of the ACA marketplaces by deterring fraudulent activities. This will likely lead to more accurate enrollment data and reduced financial losses due to fraud. The Act also mandates increased oversight and regulation of agents, brokers, and marketing organizations involved in ACA enrollment.
Potential Benefits
- Increased accountability for agents and brokers, reducing fraudulent enrollments.
- Enhanced consumer protections through verification processes and notifications.
- Greater transparency in the enrollment process.
- Improved oversight of marketing organizations involved in ACA enrollment.
- Potential for reduced healthcare costs due to decreased fraud.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased administrative burden for agents, brokers, and exchanges.
- Potential delays in enrollment processes due to verification requirements.
- Possible increased costs for compliance, which may be passed on to consumers.
- Risk of unintended consequences from stricter regulations.
- The Act may disproportionately affect smaller agencies or brokers with fewer resources.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the General Welfare Clause (Preamble) by aiming to reduce fraud and ensure the efficient operation of healthcare exchanges. Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce (Article I, Section 8) provides a basis for regulating insurance practices that affect the national healthcare system. The bill does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
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).