US Senate blocks competing health care proposals as Affordable Care Act premium hikes loom

WASHINGTON

The US Senate on Thursday rejected Democratic and Republican health care proposals as subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are set to expire for millions of Americans at the end of the year.

Both bills fell short of the 60 votes required, sending the issue back into the political fray.

The Democratic bill aimed to extend the expanded ACA subsidies for three more years but failed in a 51-48 vote, with Republican Sens. Susan Collins, Josh Hawley, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan joining Democrats in support.

“Democrats may talk about helping Americans, but their bill is nothing more than a political messaging exercise that they hope they can use against Republicans next November,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

The Republican-backed proposal failed 51-48. Authored by Sens. Bill Cassidy and Mike Crapo, the plan would have provided up to $1,500 annually in health savings account payments for those earning less than 700% of the federal poverty level.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters after the vote that Republicans had “refused to do what they should have done,” arguing that the bill was the final opportunity to prevent substantial increases in consumers’ premiums.

"Senate Republicans just shoved the American people off the side of a cliff with no parachute and with an anchor tied to their feet," he said. “Republicans now own America's health care crisis.”