US Senators Repeatedly Block Efforts to Extend COVID-Era Health Subsidies as Political Gridlock Continues
A group of US senators on Thursday rejected two competing health bills aimed at helping Americans cope with rising healthcare costs in the coming year. The proposals, which were introduced by Democrats and Republicans, failed to gain enough support to advance due to lack of bipartisan backing.
The Democrat-led bill would have extended subsidies for three years under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. However, it fell short of the 60-vote threshold required to pass in the Senate and was blocked by Republican senators. All Democrats voted in favor of the bill, but only four Republicans – Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Susan Collins, and Josh Hawley – joined them.
The Democratic proposal aimed to mitigate rising healthcare premiums next year, which could more than double for some Americans without subsidies. According to a health policy organization, KFF, premiums could quadruple for some individuals, with one family facing quintupled costs.
"I'm terrified we won't be able to keep up with our mortgage," said Nicole Sheaff, a mother of four from New Hampshire. "At the same time, going without health insurance is not an option... My husband has a chronic condition that he needs medication to manage, and he wouldn’t be able to afford it without health coverage."
A Republican-led proposal earlier in the day also failed to pass, with funding intended to help low-income families cover out-of-pocket costs for catastrophic plans on the healthcare marketplace. The funds came with limitations that Democrats have long objected to, including verification of citizenship status.
Experts warn that if the subsidies are not extended, millions of Americans will lose access to affordable healthcare, leading to increased strain on emergency rooms and exacerbating existing health disparities.
"Flooding the emergency room with patients at different stages of conditions delays care for those who truly need it," said Dr. Bruce Y Lee, a professor of public health at CUNY Graduate School of Public Health. "Emergency rooms already have long waits, and this only clogs them further, affecting everyone, even those with insurance."
A recent poll found that Americans overwhelmingly support extending the subsidies, with 51% in favor – including three-quarters of Democrats and a third of Republicans. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that approximately 2.2 million Americans could lose their health insurance premium subsidies if they are not extended.
A group of US senators on Thursday rejected two competing health bills aimed at helping Americans cope with rising healthcare costs in the coming year. The proposals, which were introduced by Democrats and Republicans, failed to gain enough support to advance due to lack of bipartisan backing.
The Democrat-led bill would have extended subsidies for three years under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. However, it fell short of the 60-vote threshold required to pass in the Senate and was blocked by Republican senators. All Democrats voted in favor of the bill, but only four Republicans – Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Susan Collins, and Josh Hawley – joined them.
The Democratic proposal aimed to mitigate rising healthcare premiums next year, which could more than double for some Americans without subsidies. According to a health policy organization, KFF, premiums could quadruple for some individuals, with one family facing quintupled costs.
"I'm terrified we won't be able to keep up with our mortgage," said Nicole Sheaff, a mother of four from New Hampshire. "At the same time, going without health insurance is not an option... My husband has a chronic condition that he needs medication to manage, and he wouldn’t be able to afford it without health coverage."
A Republican-led proposal earlier in the day also failed to pass, with funding intended to help low-income families cover out-of-pocket costs for catastrophic plans on the healthcare marketplace. The funds came with limitations that Democrats have long objected to, including verification of citizenship status.
Experts warn that if the subsidies are not extended, millions of Americans will lose access to affordable healthcare, leading to increased strain on emergency rooms and exacerbating existing health disparities.
"Flooding the emergency room with patients at different stages of conditions delays care for those who truly need it," said Dr. Bruce Y Lee, a professor of public health at CUNY Graduate School of Public Health. "Emergency rooms already have long waits, and this only clogs them further, affecting everyone, even those with insurance."
A recent poll found that Americans overwhelmingly support extending the subsidies, with 51% in favor – including three-quarters of Democrats and a third of Republicans. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that approximately 2.2 million Americans could lose their health insurance premium subsidies if they are not extended.
Healthcare costs are about to get REAL for most people. Quadrupling premiums? No thanks! 
That's like, basic human rights, right? The stats are crazy - premiums could quadruple for some individuals and quintupled for families... how's anyone supposed to afford that without health coverage? 
It's not just about the money, it's about accessing life-saving medication or medical care when you need it. And now we're facing a perfect storm of increased healthcare costs, emergency room overloads... it's just heartbreaking. Can't our politicians put aside their differences and do what's right for the people? 
. i get that politics can be complex, but it's crazy how much pain this is gonna cause for so many ppl. my hubby has a chronic condition too, and it would literally break him if he couldn't afford his meds 
. let's hope the gov finds a way to work together on this one 
.
Without these health subsidies, many people will struggle to afford healthcare, and it's just not worth it 
. We can't let millions lose access to affordable healthcare 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to help people keep their healthcare costs from going through the roof? It's like they're trying to make healthcare unaffordable on purpose 
. And now millions of Americans are gonna be left without coverage because of their gridlock 
. The numbers are just crazy - quadrupling premiums? That's not even a possibility for most people, let alone those with chronic conditions 
. It's time for them to step up and do what's right 
️.