On Dec. 11, the Senate failed to advance dueling proposals to address health care affordability challenges stemming from the impending expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits (EPTCs). The EPTCs, which are set to lapse on Dec. 31, have been an area of focus for the Senate in recent weeks, with both the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and Finance Committee convening hearings on this topic [refer to Washington Highlights, Dec. 5, Nov. 21]. Absent congressional action, the expiration of these credits is widely expected to cause Affordable Care Act Marketplace plan premiums to increase significantly for the 2026 plan year, resulting in affordability challenges and potential loss of coverage.
The Senate first voted 51-48, short of the 60 votes needed, to reject a proposal led by Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.) and Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), which would have expanded health savings accounts as an alternative to the subsidies. That was followed by a 51-48 vote on the Democrat-led proposal to extend the subsidies by an additional three years. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) broke with their party to support the second measure.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) presented to his conference on Wednesday ten proposals to reduce health care costs. Additional House action on this issue is expected next week.