by Ben Whedon
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday unveiled a series of proposals to tighten eligibility for a tax credit aimed at helping Americans pay for health care.
The proposal would raise verification requirements for the Premium Tax Credit (PTC), with the aim of ensuring that the credit only goes to Americans.
“Today’s proposed rules implement the common-sense reforms enacted by the Working Families Tax Cuts to close eligibility loopholes and ensure taxpayer-funded Premium Tax Credits are reserved for eligible Americans,” Bessent said in a statement. “Under President Trump, this Administration is cracking down on fraud and corruption; holding bad actors accountable; lowering health care costs for Americans; and restoring integrity to our tax code and health care system.”
According to IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano, “the proposed rules protect eligible taxpayers while strengthening the integrity of the Premium Tax Credit.”
“The enhanced verification measures are designed to curb improper claims, ensuring these vital tax benefits go strictly to the hardworking Americans who qualify for them,” he said.
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said the Trump administration’s approach to eliminating waste, fraud and abuse is based on “the idea that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
“Ensuring health programs serve only those who are eligible is one of the most effective ways to protect these programs and the taxpayers who support them. With today’s proposed rules, the Treasury Department is taking another step forward in our collaborative effort to protect taxpayer dollars by shutting down waste and fraud before a single dollar leaves the building,” he noted.
The move marks the latest effort by the administration to limit access to public funds for non-Americans and turn off the welfare spigot to ineligible foreigners.
While deportations remain the primary method of the administration for removing illegal aliens, Washington has increasingly looked to address the existing financial incentives to illegal immigration.
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Ben Whedon is a reporter for Just the News. Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network and contributed to this story.
Photo “Scott Bessent” by the Department of the Treasury.
