Health Care Bill Introduced in House After Senate Rejects 2 Attempts to Deal With Expiring Subsidies

A House Republican introduced a health care bill on Dec. 12 aimed at making insurance more affordable and transparent for Americans, following the Senate’s failure to advance two dueling bills that addressed the expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies.

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, introduced by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), would allow Americans to review the true cost of drugs, give them lower premiums, and help employers have flexibility with health insurance plans.

One of the key proposals in the bill would require Pharmacy Benefit Managers to be transparent about how much prescription drugs cost, where rebates are allocated, and why some drugs are covered while others aren’t.

The second large proposal in the bill would provide funding that lowers premiums and is intended to stabilize the market. It would also give relief to low-income enrollees who need it.

The legislation aimed to also assist small businesses with getting access to coverage that is “more tailored” to their needs while still affordable.

The Obamacare subsidies set to expire at the end of the year are enhanced premium tax credits issued in 2021 that were supposed to be a temporary measure to help the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The original Obamacare subsidies are open to people making between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level. That equates to a household income of between $32,150 and $128,600 for a family of four.

The enhanced subsidies increased the amount of the subsidies, removed the income limit, and capped out-of-pocket premium payments at 8.5 percent of household income. Some low-income enrollees are eligible for plans with no premium payment under the coverage expansion.

House Democrats have long suggested extending the enhanced Obamacare subsidies and wanted this issue to be addressed during the historic government shutdown, which is why many repeatedly voted “no” to reopening the government.

“The most direct path forward is a straightforward extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said at his press conference on Dec. 12.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) urged lawmakers to support the new bill.

“While Democrats demand that taxpayers write bigger checks to insurance companies to hide the cost of their failed law, House Republicans are tackling the real drivers of health care costs to provide affordable care, increase access and choice, and restore integrity to our nation’s health care system for all Americans,” Johnson said in a Dec. 12 statement.

“Republicans are offering clear, responsible alternatives that will lower premium costs and increase access and health care options for all Americans.”

On Dec. 11, the Senate failed to advance competing health care bills that tried to address issues that will arise when the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire.

The GOP’s bill failed to advance in a 51–48 vote.

The Democrats’ bill, which proposed extending the expiring subsidies for three years, also failed on a 51–48 vote.

Lawrence Wilson and Nathan Worcester contributed to this report.