Congressman Steven Horsford and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto Introduce Legislation to Lower Health Care Costs for Families with Working Students

Press Release

Today, Congressman Steven Horsford and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto introduced the Dependent Income Exclusion Act, a bill to make health insurance more affordable for families with children in school who are working part-time, or who are enrolled in job training programs. This critical legislation would allow families to exclude specific dependent income when determining their eligibility for Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of making sure that health care is accessible for all families," said Congressman Horsford. "I'm proud to sponsor the Dependent Income Exclusion Act which makes health insurance more affordable for families with young adults who are working part-time or enrolled in job training. This bill will encourage the strong work ethic of Nevada's young people and expand coverage for working families in Nevada's Fourth District and across the country."

"One of my top priorities during this pandemic is to make sure that we're expanding access to critical health care, not restricting it," said Senator Cortez Masto. "I'm proud to sponsor this legislation to ease the financial burden on families with working children so that they can afford access to quality health care. I'll continue working to include this legislation in an upcoming coronavirus relief package and ensure that all Nevadans can access critical health care, including mental health care."

This legislation would increase the ACA premium subsidy tax credit for families who are already eligible, while providing many families who were previously ineligible with access to subsidies for the first time.

Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto announced the companion legislation for the Senate. The Dependent Income Exclusion Act was first introduced during the 116th Congress.

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