Senate Rejects Competing Healthcare Proposals as Deadline Nears

Washington, D.C. (KFMO) - With time running out to prevent healthcare costs from rising for millions of Americans, the U.S. Senate took up competing proposals from Democrats and Republicans on Thursday, but rejected both measures, leaving the issue unresolved.

Lawmakers are scrambling to address the impending expiration of COVID-era Affordable Care Act tax subsidies, which are set to end by the close of the year. If no agreement is reached, more than 20 million Americans could see higher health insurance premiums in the new year. While some senators expressed cautious optimism that a bipartisan deal could still be reached, divisions along party lines remain strong, and no clear path forward has emerged as the deadline approaches. In Thursday’s votes, Alaska’s two Republican senators joined Democratic lawmakers in supporting an extension of the tax credits.

They were joined by Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Josh Hawley of Missouri, who also voted in favor of extending the subsidies. Despite that crossover support, neither proposal garnered enough votes to advance. The rejection of both plans underscores the difficulty lawmakers face in finding common ground on healthcare policy, even as the potential impact on millions of Americans grows more urgent.

Without a last-minute agreement before the end of the year, higher healthcare costs could soon become a reality for families across the country.