Bill > S1455

This bill, also known as the Requiring E-VERIFI Act, aims to ensure that financial assistance for health insurance is properly distributed by requiring a verification program to be operational before subsidies are provided. Specifically, it mandates that the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services must certify to Congress that a system is in place to accurately and consistently verify the household income and coverage eligibility of individuals applying for financial aid. This aid includes premium tax credits, which help lower the cost of health insurance premiums, and cost-sharing reductions, which reduce out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles and copayments, both offered under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (often called Obamacare). The bill emphasizes that these subsidies cannot be provided until this income verification program is certified as functional, thereby adding a layer of accountability to the distribution of these important benefits.