U.S. House passes bill extending health care subsidies in rebuke of GOP leaders

The House approved the bill 230-196 to extend expired Affordable Care Act subsidies after 17 Republicans joined Democrats to force a discharge petition; the measure now moves to the Senate, where bipartisan negotiators are discussing alternative proposals and the CBO estimated the bill would add about $80.6 billion to the deficit over 10 years while increasing coverage by several million people.

The House passed legislation to extend expired Affordable Care Act subsidies after a group of Republicans joined Democrats to force a floor vote through a discharge petition. The measure passed 230-196 and would extend enhanced tax credits that were enacted during the COVID-19 period. The outcome is seen as a challenge to House Republican leadership, and the bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration. Senate negotiators from both parties are working on alternative proposals that could change eligibility and benefits. Key facts: - The House approved the bill 230-196 after 17 Republican lawmakers joined every Democrat to force the vote by signing a discharge petition. - The proposal would extend enhanced ACA tax credits that expired late last year and now goes to the Senate for consideration. - The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill would raise the deficit by about $80.6 billion over 10 years and increase insurance coverage by roughly 100,000 people this year, 3 million in 2027, 4 million in 2028 and 1.1 million in 2029. - Speaker Mike Johnson had opposed advancing the measure and his office said federal COVID-era health funding is vulnerable to fraud, urging members to vote no. - Senate leaders, including Sen. John Thune and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, are part of talks on an alternative plan that may include income limits, nominal beneficiary payments and expanded health savings accounts. Summary: The vote represents an uncommon cross-party alignment in the House and moves a three-year subsidy extension to the Senate for further action. Lawmakers in the Senate are negotiating alternative approaches that could alter eligibility and cost-sharing, and the final outcome remains undetermined at this time.