Pappas Introduces Legislation to Protect Granite Staters’ Access to Affordable Health Care Coverage
Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced the Protecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act, legislation to assist Americans in alleviating paperwork burdens and making informed enrollment decisions. This includes extending the 2026 Open Enrollment period, restoring auto-reenrollment and the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) which were repealed in the Republican One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and funding the Navigator Program.
“I’m not letting up in the fight for affordable health care for Granite Staters. We have one month left in open enrollment and individuals are seeing eye-popping premium increases of double or even triple,” said Congressman Pappas. “We have bipartisan legislation ready to go, but Republican leadership continues to refuse to bring it to the floor to stop skyrocketing health care costs. While we keep fighting to get our bill to the floor, my legislation would give families the time, flexibility, and resources to find health insurance coverage that is right for them. I will continue pushing to expand health care access and lower costs at this critical time for New Hampshire families.”
This legislation is endorsed by NAMI, Third Way, and Protect Our Care.
“NAMI NH often hears from Granite Staters with mental illness who struggle to access essential health care for themselves and their families,” said Susan Stearns, Executive Director of NAMI New Hampshire. “We are grateful to Rep. Pappas for introducing TheProtecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act to help prevent gaps in coverage – and in care – by extending open enrollment & supporting trusted Navigators.”
"Health care decisions shouldn't be rushed or based on incorrect information, which can limit people's access to critical mental health services," said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at NAMI. "By extending open enrollment, protecting auto-reenrollment, and investing in the trusted Navigator Program, the Protecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act would help Americans better understand often confusing options and information, potentially avoiding unnecessary gaps in health coverage. NAMI thanks Rep. Pappas for introducing this important legislation, which would benefit many Americans' access to mental health care."
"Americans are under constant threat from Republican health care cuts and efforts to weaken the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, Congressman Chris Pappas is fighting to restore key policies to ensure Americans have adequate access to health care," said Darbin Wofford, Deputy Director of Health Care at Third Way. "Third Way applauds his introduction of the Protecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act, which would ease administrative burdens for those seeking health insurance and maximize access to the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces."
"Trump and Republicans have blown past deadline after deadline as hard-working Granite Staters wait for a fix to their GOP-driven skyrocketing health insurance premiums,” said Protect Our Care New Hampshire’s Jayme Simoes. “Republicans got us into this mess, and if they’re not going to dig us out by ending their disastrous war on health care, the very least they can do is pass Rep. Pappas’s Protecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act. This bill would be a lifeline for New Hampshire families, giving them additional time and resources to make major decisions about their health and finances as the new year begins.”
The Protecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act would:
- Extend 2026 Open Enrollment through May 1st, 2026 to provide individuals and families more time to assess Marketplace prices and make an informed decision about health insurance coverage as a result of the chaos and confusion caused by Republican inaction;
- Reinstate auto-reenrollment, which was repealed by the Republican One Big Beautiful Bill Act, to reduce administrative burden for consumers to enroll in ACA coverage;
- Make permanent a Special Enrollment Period for low-income individuals to ensure the ACA plans are available to Americans even when income fluctuates;
- Restore and make mandatory funding of $100 million to the Navigator Program, which helps consumers make informed decisions about their health plans.
This legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), and Julie Johnson (TX-32).
Background:
Last week Pappas was a part of a bipartisan coalition of 38 total House Members that introduced the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act, which includes a year extension of the enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs), with targeted modifications, new guardrails to prevent “ghost beneficiaries” and crack down on fraud, an extension of open enrollment, and PBM reform. In November Pappas led the call for the Trump administration to extend the ACA open enrollment period and subsequently introduced the Right to Enroll Act, which would require the Department of Health and Human Services to extend the enrollment period through May 1, 2026. Pappas supports multiple pieces of legislation that would prevent extreme increases in health care premiums next year by extending the enhanced premium tax credits that keep health insurance affordable for Granite Staters and small businesses.
Pappas held a roundtable with leadership from Lamprey Health Care about the burden of these increased costs, during which they shared stories about the impact the lapse will have on their patients, as well as the news that the health center's annual premium to cover their staff is also expected to increase by 40% next year. Small businesses across New Hampshire are bearing these costs, including a manufacturer Pappas visited that expects to see a 38% increase in its health insurance costs next year due to the lapse of the tax credits.