Should Members of Congress Not be Exempt From American Health Care Act Waivers? (H.R. 2192)

What is H.R. 2192?

(Updated June 25, 2020)

This bill would eliminate an exemption contained in the American Health Care Act that would’ve allowed members of Congress and their staffers to be exempted from state waivers of Obamacare requirements like the essential health benefits mandate if the AHCA were to become law.

Argument in favor

Members of Congress and their staffs should have to live under the laws that they write and enact. No exemption from waivers granted to states under the American Health Care Act should be given to them.

Argument opposed

Members of Congress and their staffs make significant sacrifices to serve their constituents. Because they spend so much time away from their home state they shouldn’t be subject to state AHCA waivers.

Impact

Members of Congress and their staffs.

Cost of H.R. 2192

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) introduced this bill to prevent members of Congress from exempting themselves from the American Health Care Act:

“In America, lawmakers are not above the law. Members of Congress should be treated no differently than other Americans struggling to afford healthcare. Representatives should have to abide by the very same options for coverage as their constituents, and anything short of that is simply hypocrisy. Congress must live by the rules it creates.”

This legislation has the support of 80 cosponsors in the House, all of whom are Republicans.

Of Note: House Republicans were widely criticized when it was revealed that an exception had been inserted into the American Health Care Act. During the debate surrounding Obamacare, Republicans successfully moved to require members of Congress and their staffs to obtain health insurance through the exchanges available to the rest of Americans.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) Press Release
  
• AZ Central
  
• The Hill
  
• Politico