The U.S. Senate failed to advance competing partisan health care bills Thursday (Dec. 11) as Alabamians brace for a spike in premiums next year.
The expiration of the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies is almost certain now that the two votes failed.
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Alabama U.S. Sens. Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, along with all but one Republican, supported the GOP measure that would boost health savings accounts, but let the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits expire at the end of the year. No Democrats voted for the bill.
But Britt said she hasn’t shut the door to supporting a bill that would extend the health insurance subsidies.
“I absolutely would be willing to entertain that,” Britt told Alabama Daily News. “Obviously, we would need modifications.”
The Republican plan, led by Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mike Crapo of Idaho, would give up to $1,500 to individuals earning less than 700% of the federal poverty level to use for tax-free health savings accounts. It would also expand catastrophic marketplace options.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Alex Angle and originally published by the Alabama Daily News.
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