New federal program helps workers fight denied health insurance claims
H.R. 9737 — Consumer Health Claim Assistance Act · Filed by Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) · Introduced Jul 16, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill creates a new federal Benefits Assistance Program within the Department of Labor to help workers and retirees understand and appeal denied health insurance claims under employer plans. It also imposes new annual filing fees on employers ($250–$1,000+ depending on plan size) to fund the program and enforcement, with at least 50% of fees dedicated to the assistance program itself.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core mechanism is establishing a federal ombudsman-like program to assist workers in appealing denied health benefits, funded by employer filing fees. This is a consumer-protection and enforcement measure, not a tax or subsidy carve-out.
What the text implies
- The 50% minimum allocation to the assistance program may create pressure to raise filing fees over time if complaint volume exceeds projections, shifting more cost to employers and potentially to workers via plan design changes.
- Annual reporting requirements on plan size, service providers, and funding methods will increase transparency into employer health plan operations, potentially exposing cost-shifting or underfunding patterns.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Department of Labor (increased staffing and enforcement budget); Benefits advisors and ombudsman-type service providers (if DOL contracts out assistance functions)