House Passes Bill to Require Income Verification for Obamacare Benefits

Last week, the House passed the No Subsidies Without Verification Act (H.R. 2775) to require income verification of individuals seeking Obamacare subsidies.

In July, the Obama Administration quietly announced that Americans wishing to receive Obamacare benefits would be on the “honor system” when filling out income information that determines Obamacare eligibility. The anti-fraud bill, introduced by Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), would require basic verification to ensure individuals who buy insurance through the Obamacare exchanges are legally eligible to receive taxpayer-funded subsidies. The bill passed on a 235 to 191 vote. 

“Protecting American taxpayers from fraud and abuse is not a partisan issue,” said Rep. Black. “Until we can repeal Obamacare, we need to protect the American taxpayers from the staggering amounts of potential fraud and abuse in the Obamacare exchanges.”

Black says fraudulent Obamacare subsidy claims could cost taxpayers up to $250 billion. 

Just five Democrats supporting the measure. Democrats say the bill is dead on arrival in the Senate.

“This is part of a mean-spirited and short-sighted effort to sabotage the health care reform effort,” said Rep. Earl Blumeanauer (D-OR).

“This is nothin’ going nowhere,” said Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO). 

President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul remains highly unpopular with the American people. A CNN poll finds that 57% of Americans oppose “most” or “all” of Obamacare. An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll says just 31% of Americans now think Obamacare is a “good idea” and just 12% of respondents believe Obamacare will have a positive impact on their families.  

The Obamacare health exchanges open in 14 days.