NEWS: Senators Blunt Rochester, Wyden Introduce Legislation to Protect Patients, Ensure More Americans Can Afford Health Care

Washington, DC–U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee,today introduced theRestoring Patient Protections and Affordability Act,legislation to protect health care coverage for millions of Americans and improve the effectiveness of the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace. This legislation would renew the enhanced premium tax credits for 3 years, extend the 2026 Open Enrollment period, reduce paperwork for families, and lower out-of-pocket caps.
“The cost of living is skyrocketing, and the last thing hardworking Americans need is another bill added to their everyday expenses,”said Senator Blunt Rochester.“After causing the longest government shutdown in history, Republicans refused to work on a solution to extend critical ACA subsidies, putting health care access at risk for millions of Americans. We must not only restore access to affordable care but make it easier for families to shop for the best plans for them. That is why Senator Wyden and I are introducing theRestoring Patient Protections and Affordability Actto lower costs and keep people covered. I look forward to working with our colleagues to finally take action on this issue.”
“Americans today are waking up to a cold reality: health care costs are doubling, tripling, or even worse,”said Senator Wyden.“While Trump is playing the blame game on America’s affordability crisis, Democrats are working day and night to extend ACA tax credits so that working families nationwide can access quality care without breaking the bank.”
Over 20 million Americans rely on ACA Marketplace plans to access comprehensive health coverage, including small business owners, farmers and ranchers, independent contractors, and those who cannot afford insurance through their employers. Through theOne Big Beautiful Bill Actand Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations, the Trump administration has systematically erected barriers that have made it both more difficult and more expensive for Americans to access health care coverage. With Open Enrollment underway, people are actively logging ontohealthcare.govto shop for insurance coverage in 2026 and seeing massive premium spikes that will cause millions of people to forgo coverage altogether.
This legislation comes as a continuation of Senator Blunt Rochester’s efforts to highlight how higher premiums are impacting Americans. In November, she joined Delaware Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro inauthoring an op-edto sound the alarm on this issue. Senator Blunt Rochester has also been using her platform touplift the stories of Delawareanswhose health care costs are skyrocketing. Additionally, Senator Blunt Rochester joined Ranking Member Wyden and 26 other Senate Democrats insending a letterto Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. slamming the Trump administration for its failure to address rising health care costs for American families.
TheRestoring Patient Protections and Affordability Actwould:
This legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.).
A section-by-section summary is availablehere. Full text is availablehere.
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Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.