Votes came as premium tax credits for estimated 21.8 million enrollees of plans set to expire at end of month
The US Senate on Thursday rejected competing proposals to address the imminent expiration of subsidies for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans, greatly increasing the chances that healthcare costs will soon rise to unaffordable levels for millions of Americans.
The votes, part of a deal brokered between Republican majority leader John Thune and the Democratic senators who agreed to reopen the government after a historically long shutdown last month, came as premium tax credits for an estimated 21.8 million enrollees of the plans are set to expire at the end of the month. Health policy research group KFF estimates that annual premiums will more than double if the subsidies are allowed to expire.
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House of Representatives
Bipartisan House Group Proposes Long-Shot Health Care Plan
Republicans and Democrats released a two-year plan to scale back and extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies, but it faces long odds in the G.O.P.-led House.
Once Foes of Obamacare, Some Republicans Push to Protect It
A small cadre of politically vulnerable Republicans in Congress is breaking with the party to push for the extension of health care tax credits for a program the G.O.P. reviles.
Democrats sift through shutdown’s ashes after resistance finally breached
After 42-day standoff, government is back open – and minority party won no concessions from party in power
More than 42 days ago, beleaguered congressional Democrats employed a tactic they were not known for using – refusing to fund the government unless their demands, in this case, an extension of tax credits that lowered costs for Affordable Care Act health plans, were met.
Fast forward to Wednesday evening, and the federal government is back open, the Democrats’ resistance b...
Trump signs funding bill to end longest US government shutdown
President signs legislation to restart federal operations after House passes measure in 222-209 vote
The longest US government shutdown in history ended on Wednesday after more than 42 days, following the House of Representative’s passage of a bill negotiated by Republicans and a splinter group of Democrat-aligned senators.
The compromise sets the stage for government operations to return to normal through January, while leaving unresolved the issue of expiring tax credits for ...
Top House Democrats vow to oppose shutdown bill over healthcare funding
Democrats are demanding an extension of tax credits for Affordable Care Act health plans set to expire at end of year
US politics live – latest updates
As House Republican leaders move to hold a vote on legislation to reopen the US government, top Democrats vowed on Tuesday to oppose the bill for not addressing their demand for more healthcare funding.
Democrats have for weeks insisted that any measure to fund the government include an extension of tax c...
Shutdowns, Obamacare and the Risks of Bargaining for Policy Wins in a Crisis
A 2013 attempt to leverage minority power in a health care fight blew up on Republicans. Can today be different for Democrats?
Obamacare insurance prices will jump up 26% next year, report predicts
Enhanced subsidies keeping premiums affordable for millions will expire, threatening to more than double what households pay out of pocket
People in the US shopping for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces will face a steep 26% average price increase next year, according to new analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation released just days before enrollment begins on 1 November.
The jump represents one of the sharpest rises since the healthcare program l...
What does a government shutdown mean and why is this year’s threat more serious?
The US government has shut down because Congress couldn’t reach a funding agreement. Here’s what to know about what happens next
US government shutdown – live updates
Much of the federal government officially began to shut down on Wednesday, after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement before the midnight deadline. The shutdown will have a wide range of effects on government services and potentially the US economy.
Republicans put forward a stopgap...
Why Obamacare Bills May Double Next Year
Extensive subsidies that reduce premium costs for millions are set to expire, unless Congress extends them.