Congressional Health Insurance and the Grassley Amendment

**Key Facts**
- In 2009, Senator Chuck Grassley introduced an amendment requiring Congress members and staff to obtain health insurance through ACA exchanges (Grassley amendment makes Congress obtain coverage from health care plan established in reform bill | U.S…).
- The Grassley Amendment was incorporated into the Affordable Care Act, mandating congressional participation in ACA health insurance exchanges (Grassley amendment makes Congress obtain coverage from health care plan established in reform bill | U.S…).
- As of 2026, members of Congress and their staff are enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, which offers private insurance plans (45 CFR Part 147 - HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE MAR…; Health Insurance Market Reforms | CMS).
- The current enforcement and applicability of the Grassley Amendment are unclear due to possible legislative changes since its introduction (Grassley amendment makes Congress obtain coverage from health care plan established in reform bill | U.S…).

**Source-Based Paraphrases**
- The Grassley Amendment initially required Congress to use the same health insurance exchanges as the public under the ACA (Grassley amendment makes Congress obtain coverage from health care plan established in reform bill | U.S…).
- Over time, congressional health insurance coverage has evolved, with current members using the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program rather than ACA exchanges (45 CFR Part 147 - HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE MAR…; Health Insurance Market Reforms | CMS).
- Legislative developments may have altered or repealed the original requirement for Congress to obtain insurance through ACA exchanges (Grassley amendment makes Congress obtain coverage from health care plan established in reform bill | U.S…).

**Summary**
The Grassley Amendment, introduced by Senator Chuck Grassley in 2009, mandated that members of Congress and their staff obtain health insurance through the Affordable Care Act's exchanges, aligning their coverage with that of the public. This was significant as it aimed to ensure Congress shared the same health insurance market reforms as citizens. However, by 2026, congressional members typically receive coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and the current status and enforcement of the Grassley Amendment remain uncertain due to subsequent legislative changes. This raises ongoing questions about whether Congress should continue to use the same medical care options as the public.

**Verified Sources**
- 45 CFR Part 147 - HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETS
- Health Insurance Market Reforms | CMS
- Grassley amendment makes Congress obtain coverage from health care plan established in reform bill | U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
- Van Hollen, Bera Reintroduce Bill to Make it Easier to Sign Up for Health Insurance as Republicans Plan to Slash Coverage for Millions | U.S. Senator…
- Fitzpatrick Files Discharge Petition to Force Vote on Bipartisan Bill Preventing ACA Premium Spikes