Overview
- The House approved a three-year restoration of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits in a 230–196 vote, with 17 Republicans joining all Democrats, sending the bill to the Senate.
- A rarely used discharge petition forced House leaders to allow a floor vote, exposing divisions within the Republican conference over how to handle the lapsed subsidies.
- The Congressional Budget Office projects the measure would expand coverage by millions over the next few years while adding about $80.6 billion to the deficit over a decade.
- Senate leaders say any plan must include limits such as income caps and other guardrails, while a bipartisan group is drafting an alternative and signaled a framework could be ready next week.
- The enhanced credits expired at the end of 2025, leaving marketplace enrollees facing higher premiums as negotiations continue over cost, fraud safeguards and policy trade-offs.