ALLENTOWN, Pa. (WFMZ) — On Friday, House Republicans unveiled a health care bill that does not extend Affordable Care Act subsidies.
The tax credits are set to expire in less than three weeks, with health insurance premiums expected to rise 175%.
A number of lawmakers are pushing back to keep healthcare affordable — including some from our area.
U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Bucks and Montgomery counties is co-sponsoring the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act, which in a release from Fitzpatrick, a moderate Republican, “delivers a practical, passable solution to avert year-end crisis.”
The legislation advances five reforms designed to protect affordability including preventing premium spikes, restoring consumer control, shining light on middlemen, giving families new tools to manage costs and smart stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
Fitzpatrick also filed a discharge petition to force a vote on his bipartisan bill to keep healthcare affordable.
“Right now with a cliff upon us at the end of the year, I think we have to extend it out a minimum of two years…People are squeezed right now and to add this on top of that, you know, a significant increase in their premiums is not an option. So, um, I think a lot of my colleagues are realizing that,” Fitzpatrick stated.
A day after Fitzpatrick’s bill, a second was introduced by a bipartisan coalition of 38 house members including Fitzpatrick and Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey.
The CommonGround Bill also addresses skyrocketing premiums.
In reference to both bills, Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie told us, “As I have been for the last several months, I’m continuing to push for bipartisan action on extending subsidies and delivering commonsense healthcare reform. This week, I joined two discharge petitions on bipartisan plans that extend subsidies, implement reforms to prevent corporate fraud, and make sure tax credits aren’t going to millionaires and billionaires. I continue to call on all members who have expressed support for extending the subsidies to put politics aside and support the bipartisan compromise.”
When asked about the Affordable Care Act, President Donald Trump said, “ObamaCare is horrible health insurance. It’s far too expensive and it always has been, but what it really is, is a way of making insurance companies rich…We want to give the money to the people and let the people buy their own great health care.”
House Republicans may allow an amendment vote next week that would extend ObamaCare subsidies.