Primary and Behavioral Health Care Access Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill would require health insurance plans to cover three primary care visits and three behavioral health visits each year with zero out-of-pocket costs for patients, including no copays, coinsurance, or deductible requirements.
• The bill applies broadly to employer-sponsored group health plans as well as individual health insurance coverage purchased on the marketplace. It amends three major federal laws (ERISA, the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code) to ensure consistent coverage across plan types.
• Behavioral health visits cover a broad range of providers including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, and psychiatric nurses, making it easier for people to access mental health care without worrying about the cost.
• Health plans cannot apply more restrictive treatment limitations to these free visits compared to other covered visits, and reimbursement rates for providers must remain the same. This prevents insurers from creating a lower tier of care for the no-cost visits.
• High-deductible health plans paired with Health Savings Accounts would also be allowed to cover these visits before the deductible is met, preserving HSA eligibility for people enrolled in those plans.
• If enacted, insurance plans would have two years from the date of signing to begin offering these free visits, giving insurers time to adjust their plans and pricing.