{"id":342311,"date":"2025-12-11T03:55:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T03:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/342311\/"},"modified":"2025-12-11T03:55:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T03:55:09","slug":"republicans-are-torn-over-health-care-heres-what-we-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/342311\/","title":{"rendered":"Republicans are torn over health care. Here\u2019s what we know"},"content":{"rendered":"

For more politics coverage and analysis, sign up for Here\u2019s the Deal, our weekly politics newsletter, here.<\/a><\/p>\n

We have a lot to talk about because, at the moment, Congress is stalled on a critical issue.<\/p>\n

In about 22 days, a large portion of government health care subsidies expire, affecting the cost and availability of insurance for no less than millions of people.<\/p>\n

And yet, Congress is set to leave Washington in two weeks. While we suddenly have a number of plans to try to fix this problem, there is also Republican paralysis over which one they want. <\/p>\n

Let\u2019s go over some basics to start.<\/p>\n

What is expiring? A set of federal subsidies that makes health insurance premiums cheaper for millions of Americans on the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, exchanges. These are called \u201cenhanced premium tax credits,\u201d with a rhyme-friendly acronym: PTCs. They are \u201cenhanced\u201d because they were added on top of the initial subsidies during the pandemic. <\/p>\n

How would the loss of subsidies affect plans? KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research group, calculated that on average premiums for people enrolled in enhanced subsidized coverage would more than double in 2026.<\/a><\/p>\n

Who would lose these subsidies? Americans who earn an annual income of more than 400% of the federal poverty limit<\/a> and who get their health insurance on the exchange stand to lose subsidies if Congress doesn\u2019t act. The amount of subsidies depends on income levels and costs in each state. Subsidies would stay in place for those earning under 400 percent of the poverty level.<\/p>\n

What are the basic ideas about how to deal with this? Lawmakers are currently floating many plans (see below), but there are a few key concepts among the competing proposals.<\/p>\n

Simply extend existing subsidies.
\nExtend the subsidies and reform them with income caps and new co-pays.
\nReplace the subsidies, which go to insurance companies, with direct payments to individuals, to be used to shop for health care either within or outside of the Affordable Care Act. These usually are called HSAs or \u201chealth savings accounts.\u201d<\/p>\n

What are elected leaders proposing to do?<\/p>\n

Here is a quick look at the major options and their supporters right now. <\/p>\n

No plan yet: President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson
\nMove to HSAs: Senate Republican Leader John Thune
\nExtend current subsidies: Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries<\/p>\n

What specific plans are on the table?<\/p>\n

Quite a few. These are the prominent proposals at the moment. <\/p>\n

First, the extenders.<\/p>\n

\"Senate<\/p>\n

Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries proposed a three-year extension of the ACA subsidies. Photo by Evelyn Hockstein\/Reuters<\/p>\n

The Moreno-Collins plan. From Sens. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, and Susan Collins, R-Maine. This is not a full bill, but a framework.<\/a><\/p>\n

Extend the enhanced subsidies? Yes. For two years and end them after that.
\nIncome limit? Yes. It would add a $200,000 household income limit and require a minimum payment of $25 per month.<\/p>\n

The \u201cCommonGround\u201d plan. From some 35 Republican and Democratic House members<\/a>, led by Reps. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., and Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J. It is another framework.<\/a><\/p>\n

Extend the enhanced subsidies? Yes. One year.
\nIncome limit? Yes. This plan would phase out subsidies for those earning between 600% and 1,000% of the poverty level. This would extend open enrollment to March 19, 2026. It also would tee up votes on larger reforms, potentially including HSA accounts.<\/p>\n

The \u201cBipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act.\u201d From eight Republican and Democratic House members<\/a>, led by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn., and Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y. This is an actual bill<\/a>, released Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Extend enhanced subsidies? Yes. Two years.
\nIncome limit? Yes. At 700 percent of the poverty level.<\/p>\n

The Democrats\u2019 3-year plan. Led by leaders Schumer and Jeffries, congressional Democrats are backing a relatively simple plan.<\/p>\n

Extend enhanced subsidies? Yes. Three years.
\nIncome limit? No.<\/p>\n

And now, the HSA reformers.<\/p>\n

\"Sen.<\/p>\n

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., listens to testimony during a Senate hearing on health care costs in November. Photo by Jonathan Ernst\/Reuters<\/p>\n

The Crapo-Cassidy plan. From Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Bill Cassidy, R-La. This is a formal bill<\/a>, titled the \u201cHealth Care Freedom for Patients Act.\u201d<\/p>\n

Extend enhanced subsidies? Yes, but changes them substantially.
\nIncome limit? Yes. 700 percent of the poverty level.
\nHSA replacement? Yes. Subsidies would be placed in HSA accounts, which would vary based on age: $1,000 for people aged 18 to 49 and $1,500 for those 50 to 65.<\/p>\n

The Scott plan. From Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. This also is a formal bill<\/a>, titled the \u201cMore Affordable Care Act.\u201d<\/p>\n

Extend enhanced subsidies? No.
\nHSA replacement? Yes. Scott would keep remaining subsidies, which would revert to the original ACA limit of 400 percent of the poverty level. Those individuals would receive the subsidies in a \u201cTrump Health Freedom Account,\u201d a HSA-style account, which they could use to pay for premiums or other medical costs.<\/p>\n

What happens now<\/p>\n

The Senate will hold two votes Thursday: one on the Democrats\u2019 three-year extension and one on a plan from Senate Republicans (the Crapo-Cassidy plan).<\/p>\n

Neither is expected to pass.<\/p>\n

And it is not clear what, if anything, the House and White House might propose.<\/p>\n

It will be worth watching this week to see if any Democrats or Republicans vote with the other side in the Senate. But after that, the next steps are not clear. <\/p>\n

This leaves just days until subsidies run out, with Republicans scrambling.<\/a><\/p>\n

The bipartisan groups in the House may attempt a discharge petition, which is one way to get around a leadership block. But it is not clear they can attract the 218 signatures they need for any one idea.<\/p>\n

As we say, stay tuned.<\/p>\n

\n A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy.\n <\/p>\n

\n Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue.\n <\/p>\n


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