Senate rejects health care plans as Obamacare subsidies near expiration

The Senate has dealt a major blow to efforts to prevent a looming health care cost spike, rejecting competing proposals from both parties just weeks before Affordable Care Act subsidies are set to expire.

(NBC)- The Senate has dealt a major blow to efforts to prevent a looming health care cost spike, rejecting competing proposals from both parties just weeks before Affordable Care Act subsidies are set to expire.

The failed votes effectively dashed hopes of a near-term fix, leaving roughly 22 million Americans facing sharply higher insurance premiums when the enhanced Obamacare subsidies expire at the end of the month.

Overnight, President Donald Trump — who previously declined to negotiate when Democrats pushed to extend the subsidies during the recent government shutdown — called for a bipartisan solution.

“I really believe we can work on health care together and come up with something that’s going to be much better, much less expensive for the people,” Trump said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer argued Republicans, who have long opposed Obamacare, have failed to produce a workable alternative.

“They put a little bubble gum and scotch tape together and put together a ridiculous phony plan,” Schumer said.

Republicans counter that the Affordable Care Act itself has driven up costs. Instead, they support directing money into Americans’ health savings accounts, allowing consumers to pay for premiums and other medical expenses while maintaining protections for pre-existing conditions.

With both plans defeated on the Senate floor, the impact is now shifting to Americans who rely on the subsidies. Cancer survivor Rebecca Davis says her monthly premiums are expected to double in the new year.

“There’s a lot of stress that comes with receiving that bill in the mail,” Davis said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson says the House will take up its own health care plan next week, promising it will lower costs for more Americans. However, details of that proposal have not yet been released.

Time is running short as the political fight continues, and millions of Americans remain uncertain about how they will afford coverage in the months ahead.