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H.R. 5040 117th Congress House

Helping Seniors Afford Health Care Act

Official title: To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to reduce cost-sharing, align income and resource eligibility tests, simplify enrollment, and provide … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to reduce cost-sharing, align income and resource eligibility tests, simplify enrollment, and provide for other program improvements for low-income Medicare beneficiaries.

Introduced: November 17, 2021 Introduced by: Lisa Blunt Rochester Democratic · Delaware See on congress.gov
Health
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 18, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Aug 17, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Aug 17, 2021
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Aug 17, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Latest action August 18, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Helping Seniors Afford Health Care Act

This bill alters eligibility standards and related processes for several programs that provide premium and cost-sharing assistance to low-income Medicare beneficiaries.

Among other things, the bill expands income eligibility for the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program and the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary Program to up to 135% and 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL), respectively, and provides an enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) to state Medicaid programs for expenditures related to the expansion. The bill also repeals the Qualifying Individual Program (which currently provides premium assistance to beneficiaries with incomes between 120% and 135% of the FPL).

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 7585 Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2022
  • S 4486 Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2022
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Democratic 4
D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Nov 17, 2021
 D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · Sep 3, 2021
 D
Evans, Dwight
Pennsylvania · Aug 17, 2021
 D
Kim, Andy
New Jersey · Aug 17, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5040: Helping Seniors Afford Health Care Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-5040/
MLA
"H.R. 5040: Helping Seniors Afford Health Care Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-5040/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5040, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-5040/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5040: Helping Seniors Afford Health Care Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-5040/)
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