House GOP Faces Urgent Deadline on Health Care Plan Amid Subsidy Crisis

UPDATE: House Republicans are in a heated debate as they scramble to finalize a health care plan ahead of the looming December 31, 2023 deadline. With insurance premiums set to skyrocket for millions if Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies are not extended, the pressure is mounting to reach a consensus before lawmakers head home for the holidays.

Just announced, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is pushing forward with a proposal that does not extend ACA subsidies, instead offering limited funds to help Americans manage health care costs. This decision aligns with conservative factions within the party but has sparked significant backlash from Republicans facing tough midterm elections, who insist that any health care package must be bipartisan and extend the subsidies.

“We need to come up with something,” stated Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., after a closed-door meeting on the matter. Inside that meeting, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, cautioned that failing to include ACA funding could lead to a coalition of GOP moderates and Democrats pushing through a plan that falls short of conservative reforms.

The stakes are incredibly high. If Congress does not act, millions could face $2 trillion in increased health care costs. With Republicans under immense pressure to shield themselves from potential Democratic attacks, there is little agreement on how to move forward. Johnson aims to hold a floor vote next week, just before a two-week recess.

During Wednesday’s discussions, Republicans floated ideas like expanding health savings accounts and funding cost-sharing reductions. Johnson claimed, “We have some low-hanging fruit that every Republican agrees on; Democrats won’t.” However, many within the party recognize that a thorough overhaul of Obamacare is a complex challenge that cannot be resolved overnight.

Fifteen House Republicans, largely from swing districts, have backed a bipartisan framework led by Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., proposing a two-year extension of ACA subsidies with specific changes. Their efforts, however, face opposition from a majority who resist any support for “Obamacare.”

Some lawmakers, like Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., are considering a discharge petition—a procedural move that would require signatures from a majority of the House to force a vote on ACA subsidies. Fitzpatrick has indicated that if leadership fails to act, he may pursue this option.

Meanwhile, Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., asserts that extending the ACA subsidies with necessary reforms is crucial to protecting vulnerable Republican colleagues and maintaining the party’s fragile majority. He warned that allowing these subsidies to lapse could jeopardize their seats in the upcoming elections.

“We can’t be self-destructive,” Van Drew emphasized, noting that at least 20 Republicans share his view on the importance of extending the subsidies. However, any plan that emerges from the House would still require Senate approval, a significant hurdle that remains uncertain.

As the clock ticks down to the end of the year, the urgency is palpable. Democrats have criticized Republicans for not taking the necessary steps sooner, warning that if the ACA tax credits expire, millions will suffer from escalating health care costs.

The coming week is crucial. House Republicans must either unite behind a plan or risk facing the consequences of their inaction. For millions of Americans, their future health care costs hang in the balance.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.