Recently, the House of Representatives approved legislation that would tighten the eligibility requirements for participation in health insurance exchanges, Medicaid, and other programs affected by the Affordable Care Act. By a majority vote that included Republicans and some Democrats, it was decided that Social Security benefits should be included as income when determining modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), which is used to determine eligibility for health programs. That change may make it harder for some middle-income Americans to qualify for these programs, and could help ensure that they are reserved for lower-income Americans.