House Passes GOP Health Care Bill Without ACA Subsidy Extension

The House has passed a GOP-backed health care bill, the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, without including an extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. The bill passed by a narrow margin of 216 to 211, but its future in the Senate remains uncertain, as it will require support from several Democrats to advance.

Notably, the bill aims to expand association health plans and reduce drug costs, yet it has sparked concern among moderates about the impact of allowing ACA subsidies to expire on January 1. Four moderate Republicans signed a Democratic discharge petition to force a vote on extending the subsidies for three years, arguing that the expiration would lead to significant premium increases for millions of Americans.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has stated that the discharge petition will be considered in January, asserting that he has not lost control of the House despite pressures from within the party. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer highlighted that the demand for extending the ACA subsidies is undeniable and criticized Republican leaders for their opposition, suggesting that they would be responsible for rising health care costs.

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the GOP plan could lead to 100,000 fewer people having health insurance annually from 2027 to 2035, raising further questions about the bill's overall impact on American health care coverage.