S. 3385 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Dec 8, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExtends health insurance premium tax credits
Ever wonder how people afford health insurance on their own. This bill extends temporary changes from previous laws that make health insurance more affordable through tax credits. Specifically, it keeps the income limits higher and the out-of-pocket costs lower for people buying insurance through health exchanges for three more years, through 2028.
How it affects you
If you buy your own health insurance through a health exchange rather than getting it through an employer, this means your monthly premiums could stay lower. The changes apply to people earning between the poverty level and higher incomes, though the summary doesn't specify exactly who benefits most or by how much.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Dec 8, 2025)
Lower Health Care Costs Act
This bill extends for three years, through 2028, temporary changes enacted by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) that generally expand eligibility for and increase the amount of the premium tax credit.
Currently, eligible taxpayers may be able to claim the premium tax credit, which applies toward the cost of obtaining health insurance through health insurance exchanges. To be eligible for the premium tax credit, a taxpayer’s household income must meet or exceed 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and, after 2025, may not exceed 400% of the FPL (maximum income limit). For 2021-2025, the ARPA and IRA eliminated the maximum income limit, which generally expands eligibility for the premium tax credit.
Further, under current law, the amount of the premium tax credit is (1) generally the plan premium (conditions apply), minus (2) the taxpayer’s household income multiplied by the applicable percentage. The applicable percentage is a specific percentage that varies depending on which of six income ranges (adjusted for inflation after 2025) the taxpayer’s household income falls within. For 2021-2025, the ARPA and IRA lowered the applicable percentages and eliminated the adjustment of the applicable percentages for inflation, which generally increases the amount of the premium tax credit.
The bill extends for three years, through 2028, the elimination of the 400% maximum income limit, the lower applicable percentages, and the elimination of the inflation adjustment for the applicable percentages.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 3385
A BILL
Lower Health Care Costs Act
Sponsor: Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) · Introduced Dec 8, 2025 · Taxation · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Dec 11, 2025: “Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 48. Record Vote Number: 644. (CR S8654-8655)”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsSenate · On the Cloture Motion · Dec 11, 2025
Cloture Motion Rejected 51–48
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| Independents | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Republicans | 4 | 48 | 1 |
4 members voted against most of their party: 4 Republicans voted Yes.
Source: senate.gov · roll call 644
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.