US House expands healthcare subsidies but the bill is a battleground in Senate
A few rebellious Republicans within the US House of Representatives have joined with all Democrats in passing legislation that would expand health insurance subsidies to many millions of Americans.
Seventeen moderate Republicans have defied the leadership of their party to support the measure with a vote of 230-19196. However, the bill could have a tough time before the Senate.
House Speaker Mike Johnson had opposed a renewal of the tax credits, saying they’re full of fraud, but a few members of his ranks and file took a different path to force the vote.
Premiums for insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which is also referred to as Obamacare has nearly doubled for 20 million Americans after the subsidies ended at the end of last year.
The legislation that was passed on Thursday will extend the Covid-era aid for a further three years.
The centrist Republicans have indicated that they’d rather support an extension of some sort than not do anything at all.
More than 24 million Americans purchase health insurance through the ACA marketplace. The majority of them received tax credits to reduce the cost per month.
The tax credits, sometimes called subsidies, were first introduced by the administration of former president Barack Obama’s ACA at the time of 2014. The credits were later expanded in Covid.
The bill’s passage marks an embarrassment for House Republican leadership who control the chamber that is lower in Congress with a slim majority.
It was forced after five members of the Republican ranks and file voted last month in support of a method of procedure called a discharge petition.
The House measure does not need to be discussed in the Senate that has already voted against it.
Even if the bill was sent back in the chamber that is higher up Congress but it does not have the 60 votes needed to be approved.
Senators have stated that they’re discussing a bipartisan agreement, the text of which will be made available in the coming week.
Although it was true that the House vote was mostly symbolic, it puts lawmakers on record prior to the midterm elections this November where the issue of affordability and healthcare are likely to be hot topics for the candidates.
