WASHINGTON

The US Senate’s top Democrat on Tuesday urged Republicans to join with his party in passing legislation to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits before they expire at the end of the year.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the upcoming vote represents “the one chance left this year” for lawmakers to take meaningful action to prevent insurance premiums from skyrocketing.

"Democrats have put forth a simple proposal for a clean three-year extension of the ACA credits," Schumer said. "Senate Republicans have two days to choose: to vote to lower the American people’s health care costs or to vote to continue sending those costs through the roof."

Democratic leaders plan to move the bill forward Thursday, setting up a high-stakes vote just weeks before the enhanced tax credits are set to lapse.

The Democratic leader said Republican alternatives include “poison pills” and “unworkable restrictions,” and fail to extend the ACA premium credits that he argues are essential to stabilizing premiums.

"Republicans should join us on Thursday, vote yes on our proposal, extend the ACA tax credits by three years, and greatly reduce the specter of premiums going up and up and up," he added.

Earlier this year Democrats took a stand by refusing to vote for a budget resolution for weeks over its lack of ACA subsidies, leading to the longest government shutdown in US history.

They have warned that failure to extend the subsidies will make insurance unaffordable for millions of Americans and could lead many to suffer serious health problem and even death.