S.976 - Insurance Fraud Accountability Act (119th Congress)
Summary
S.976, 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 stricter 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, along with increased oversight of marketing organizations.
Expected Effects
The bill is likely to reduce fraud within the ACA marketplace by increasing accountability for agents and brokers. This could lead to more accurate enrollments and potentially lower costs for consumers and the government. The increased transparency and verification processes could also improve consumer confidence in the ACA.
Potential Benefits
- Reduced fraudulent enrollments in qualified health plans.
- Increased accountability for agents and brokers.
- Enhanced consumer protections during enrollment.
- Greater transparency in the enrollment process.
- Improved oversight of marketing organizations.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased administrative burden for agents and brokers.
- Potential delays in enrollment due to verification processes.
- Possible increased costs for compliance.
- Potential for unintended consequences due to new regulations.
- Could disproportionately affect smaller agencies or brokers.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble) by aiming to improve the efficiency and integrity of the healthcare system. Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce (Article I, Section 8) provides a basis for regulating health insurance exchanges and related activities. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or freedoms.
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).