Primary and Behavioral Health Care Access Act of 2026
A bill to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage to provide for 3 primary care visits and 3 behavioral health care visits without application of any cost-sharing requirement.
This bill proposes to change certain health insurance plans to ensure that people have better access to primary and behavioral health care. Specifically, it would require group health plans and health insurance providers to cover three primary care visits and three behavioral health care visits each year without any out-of-pocket costs for the person insured. This means that individuals would not have to pay anything for these visits, making health care more affordable and accessible.
This change would affect anyone who is enrolled in a group health plan or has individual health insurance coverage. By removing cost barriers, the bill aims to encourage more people to seek necessary medical and mental health care, potentially leading to better health outcomes and early detection of issues.
As of June 11, 2026, the bill has been introduced and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for further review. This is the first step in the legislative process, and the committee will now consider the bill in detail, potentially holding hearings and making amendments before deciding whether to advance it to the full Senate for a vote.
