Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) are rallying industry support behind a new legislative push to overhaul the Affordable Care Act (ACA), proposing a shift in how federal healthcare dollars are distributed.
Dubbed the “More Affordable Care Act,” the legislation seeks to redirect federal subsidies away from insurance companies and directly into the hands of patients through what the lawmakers are calling “Trump Health Freedom Accounts.”
Scott argues that while the ACA, commonly known as Obamacare, promised to lower costs, it has instead left families with skyrocketing premiums and restrictive networks. The new proposal aims to inject market forces back into the system by allowing these HSA-style accounts to be used for premiums on any plan a patient chooses, effectively decoupling insurance from government-dictated marketplaces.
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“Obamacare has failed to deliver on its promises: families didn’t get to keep their insurance plans, couldn’t keep their doctors, and didn’t save money,” Scott said in a statement. “President Trump is right that we have to stop giving tax dollars to big insurance companies and instead send them to families.”
The bill has garnered backing from several conservative policy groups and industry leaders who contend that the current subsidy structure stifles competition.
Brittany Madni, Executive Vice President of the Economic Policy Innovation Center, described the current system as a “subsidy scheme” that hands billions to “Big Insurance.” She endorsed the Scott-Pfluger bill as a necessary pivot toward fiscal responsibility.
“It opens up competition in the market, gives patients options, and institutes commonsense reforms to safeguard taxpayer dollars,” Madni said.
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A central pillar of the legislation is the ability to shop for insurance across state lines—a long-time goal for Republican health policy. Dr. Monique Yohanan, a senior fellow at Independent Women, wrote that this portability is essential for treating insurance like a product owned by the individual rather than a benefit tied to employment or geography.
“Transparency exposes prices and portability gives consumers the ability to act,” Yohanan noted. “Information without choice is powerless.”
While the bill proposes significant structural changes, Scott emphasized that certain ACA provisions would remain. The legislation preserves protections for pre-existing conditions and maintains the existence of Healthcare.gov and state exchanges, though it would alter the insurance plans available on them.
Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, urged Congress to pass the measure, framing it as a rejection of “shameless handouts” to providers.
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“Sen. Scott and Rep. Pfluger’s bill contains conservative reforms that actually reduce the costs of healthcare,” Norquist said. “No Republican should support extending the enhanced premium tax subsidies.”
The proposal also includes provisions to enhance the Small Business Tax Credit, aiming to make it easier for smaller employers to sponsor coverage.
David Balat, CEO of the Direct Care Alliance, summarized the coalition’s view: “This puts the power back into the hands of patients… What happens when competition increases? Prices go down.”
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