House moves toward vote to extend health care subsidies

The House advanced a discharge petition to force a vote on legislation to extend expired Affordable Care Act subsidies, with a handful of Republicans joining Democrats; the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates a three-year extension would increase the deficit by about $80.6 billion over a decade.

The House moved forward Thursday with legislation that would extend expired Affordable Care Act subsidy payments after a discharge petition unlocked debate. A small group of Republican lawmakers joined Democrats to reach the 218 signatures needed to force the vote. The enhanced tax credits were put in place during the COVID-19 crisis and expired late last year, prompting concern about rising insurance costs and coverage losses. If passed by the House, the bill would be sent to the Senate for further consideration. Key details: - A bipartisan discharge petition reached the 218 signatures required to compel a House vote, including four Republican members from swing districts. - The Congressional Budget Office estimated a three-year extension would raise the federal deficit by about $80.6 billion over ten years and increase the number of people with health insurance by roughly 100,000 this year and by millions in subsequent years (3 million in 2027, 4 million in 2028 and 1.1 million in 2029). - If the House approves the bill it would go to the Senate, where a small bipartisan group of senators is negotiating an alternative that could shorten the extension and add measures to address fraud and set income limits. - House Speaker Mike Johnson urged members to oppose the measure, citing concerns about fraud, while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries supported moving the subsidies extension forward. Summary: The vote represents uncommon cross-party action aimed at restoring expired ACA subsidies amid concerns over rising premiums and potential coverage losses; if approved by the House the measure would move to the Senate. Senators are discussing alternative proposals with different terms, so final congressional resolution is not yet determined.