Floor SpeechNeutral2026-09-16

COST ESTIMATE OF H.R. 2571, SELF-INSURANCE PROTECTION ACT

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Context

On 2026-09-16, Representative Tim Walberg (R-MI-5) delivered a floor speech titled "COST ESTIMATE OF H.R. 2571, SELF-INSURANCE PROTECTION ACT" in the House.

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COST ESTIMATE OF H.R. 2571, SELF-INSURANCE PROTECTION ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 146 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 146 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E938] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] COST ESTIMATE OF H.R. 2571, SELF-INSURANCE PROTECTION ACT ______ HON. TIM WALBERG of michigan in the house of representatives Wednesday, September 16, 2026 Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following cost estimate for H.R. 2571, Self-Insurance Protection Act, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, which was not made available to the Committee on Education and Workforce at the time of the filing of the legislative report. H.R. 2571, SELF-INSURANCE PROTECTION ACT, AS REPORTED BY THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE ON DECEMBER 15, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ By fiscal year, millions of dollars-- ----------------------------------- 2026 2026-2031 2026-2036 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Direct Spending (Outlays)........... 0 * * Revenues............................ 0 * * Increase or Decrease (-) in the 0 * * Deficit............................ Spending Subject to Appropriation 0 0 0 (Outlays).......................... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sources: CBO and staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation. * = between -$500,000 and $500,000. Increases net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2037? No. Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2037? No. Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply? Yes. Mandate Effects: Contains intergovernmental mandate? Yes, Under Threshold. Contains private-sector mandate? No. H.R. 2571 would amend the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to exclude stop-loss policies from that act's definition of health insurance coverage. Those policies insure against excess or unexpected losses by selfinsured group health plans or sponsors of a group health plan that self-insures. Excluding stop-loss policies from the definition of health insurance would exclude those policies from being regulated by ERISA. The bill also would preempt state laws that prevent group health plans from obtaining stop-loss policies. CBO and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimate that enacting H.R. 2571 would not significantly affect direct spending, revenues, or deficits over the 2026- 2036 period. CBO and JCT's analysis of state laws indicates that few states prohibit the sale of stop-loss coverage; thus, the bill's preemption of state laws would affect only a small number of people. H.R. 2571 would impose an intergovernmental mandate as defined by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) by preempting any state laws that prevent certain group health plans from using stop-loss policies to insure against excess or unexpected claims losses. CBO estimates that the cost of the mandate would not exceed the intergovernmental CBO Cost Estimate Page 2 H.R. 2571, as reported by the House Committee on threshold established by UMRA ($107 million in 2026, adjusted annually for inflation). The bill would not impose any private-sector mandates. The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Emily Vreeland (for federal costs) and Andrew Laughlin (for mandates). The estimate was reviewed by Chad Chirico, Director of Budget Analysis. Phillip L. Swagel, Director, Congressional Budget Office. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR2571, HR2571

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COST ESTIMATE OF H.R. 2571, SELF-INSURANCE PROTECTION ACT Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 146 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 146 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E938] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] COST ESTIMATE OF H.R. 2571, SELF-INSURANCE PROTECTION ACT ______ HON. TIM WALBERG of michigan in the house of representatives Wednesday, September 16, 2026 Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following cost estimate for H.R. 2571, Self-Insurance Protection Act, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, which was not made available to the Committee on Education and Workforce at the time of the filing of the legislative report. H.R. 2571, SELF-INSURANCE PROTECTION ACT, AS REPORTED BY THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE ON DECEMBER 15, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ By fiscal year, millions of dollars-- ----------------------------------- 2026 2026-2031 2026-2036 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Direct Spending (Outlays)........... 0 * * Revenues............................ 0 * * Increase or Decrease (-) in the 0 * * Deficit............................ Spending Subject to Appropriation 0 0 0 (Outlays).......................... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sources: CBO and staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation. * = between -$500,000 and $500,000. Increases net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2037? No. Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2037? No. Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply? Yes. Mandate Effects: Contains intergovernmental mandate? Yes, Under Threshold. Contains private-sector mandate? No. H.R. 2571 would amend the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to exclude stop-loss policies from that act's definition of health insurance coverage. Those policies insure against excess or unexpected losses by selfinsured group health plans or sponsors of a group health plan that self-insures. Excluding stop-loss policies from the definition of health insurance would exclude those policies from being regulated by ERISA. The bill also would preempt state laws that prevent group health plans from obtaining stop-loss policies. CBO and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimate that enacting H.R. 2571 would not significantly affect direct spending, revenues, or deficits over the 2026- 2036 period. CBO and JCT's analysis of state laws indicates that few states prohibit the sale of stop-loss coverage; thus, the bill's preemption of state laws would affect only a small number of people. H.R. 2571 would impose an intergovernmental mandate as defined by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) by preempting any state laws that prevent certain group health plans from using stop-loss policies to insure against excess or unexpected claims losses. CBO estimates that the cost of the mandate would not exceed the intergovernmental CBO Cost Estimate Page 2 H.R. 2571, as reported by the House Committee on threshold established by UMRA ($107 million in 2026, adjusted annually for inflation). The bill would not impose any private-sector mandates. The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Emily Vreeland (for federal costs) and Andrew Laughlin (for mandates). The estimate was reviewed by Chad Chirico, Director of Budget Analysis. Phillip L. Swagel, Director, Congressional Budget Office. ____________________ Referenced legislation: HR2571, HR2571