With less than six weeks before a key set of Affordable Care Act premium subsidies expire, congressional Republicans are scrambling to come up with a plan to address the pain of health care premiums skyrocketing for roughly 22 million Americans.
Health care has long been a thorny issue for Republicans, and this time is no different. The caucus is divided, with some more moderate — and vulnerable — GOP lawmakers looking to temporarily extend the enhanced Obamacare subsidies with several changes. But others are following President Donald Trump’s push to send federal assistance directly to consumers, rather than health insurers.
Adding to the pressure is the looming mid-December vote in the Senate on extending the enhanced subsidies, which was a concession the several Democrats wrangled from GOP leaders in exchange for agreeing to end the record-long federal government shutdown. However, it’s questionable if any plan — from either party — can win enough support to pass, and it’s not feasible to enact more substantive changes to the ACA subsidy structure before 2026 coverage begins.
Enacted by the Biden administration in 2021, the enhanced premium subsidies made Obamacare policies more affordable — particu
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