Overview 
On June 22, 2017, Republicans in the U.S. Senate released their proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), called the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA). The Senate bill closely mirrors the proposal passed in the House of Representatives—the American Health Care Act (AHCA)—with some differences. For example, unlike the AHCA, the BCRA:
- Would enhance the ACA’s Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver program; and
- Would not allow issuers to impose a surcharge for individuals who do not maintain continuous coverage.
Impact on Employers
The Senate has not taken a vote on any ACA repeal or replacement proposal at this time. The proposal would need a simple majority vote in the Senate to pass. However, amendments may be made before a Senate vote is taken. Senate Republicans indicated that they would like to take a vote prior to the Senate’s July 4 recess. If the BCRA passes the Senate, it would need to go back to the House for approval before being signed into law by President Donald Trump.
The Compliance team at Creative Benefits will continue to monitor and report as additional information becomes available. For more detailed information please review the attached Bulleting, Senate Releases Draft ACA Replacement Bill 7-23-17, and contact our team with any questions.