STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE
_____
JOINT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS
TO FIX THE SO-CALLED FAMILY GLITCH IN THE FEDERAL
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
WE, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Thirtieth Legislature of the
State of Maine now assembled in the First Special Session, most respectfully present and
petition the President of the United States and the United States Congress, as follows:
WHEREAS, under the federal Affordable Care Act, individuals receive subsidies to
reduce premium costs for health plans purchased through the marketplace and, in addition, the
lowest-income enrollees are eligible for cost-sharing reductions that lower deductibles and
copayments; and
WHEREAS, the so-called "family glitch" in the federal Affordable Care Act prohibits
family members from enrolling in marketplace plans with lower premiums and cost sharing if
one member of the family has an offer of affordable employer coverage, which is currently
defined as affordable if the premium is less than 9.83% of family income; and
WHEREAS, family members are barred from receiving subsidies in the marketplace even
if the cost of family coverage offered by the employer is above 9.83% of family income; and
WHEREAS, an April 2021 analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that 5.1
million Americans are affected by this provision, including 34,000 residents of Maine; and
WHEREAS, this provision restricts these residents from receiving subsidies and cost-
sharing reductions so that they can access affordable and high-quality health care coverage;
and
WHEREAS, proposals to fix the "family glitch" are under consideration by the President
of the United States and the United States Congress; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, your Memorialists, on behalf of the people we represent, take this
opportunity to respectfully request that the President of the United States and the United States
Congress fix the "family glitch" in the federal Affordable Care Act through administrative
action, if permitted, or through the enactment of legislation; and be it further
RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary
of State, be transmitted to the Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr., President of the United States;
the President of the United States Senate; the Speaker of the United States House of
Representatives; and each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.
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