Overview
- Democrats force a floor vote on a clean three-year extension of enhanced ACA premium tax credits, a measure unlikely to clear the 60-vote threshold.
- Republicans advance the Crapo–Cassidy plan to replace the expiring aid with direct HSA deposits of $1,000 for ages 18–49 and $1,500 for ages 50–64 tied to bronze or catastrophic plans, a proposal backed by President Trump.
- Independent estimates say roughly 22 million subsidized enrollees face average premium increases near 114% with millions projected to lose coverage, with Covered California warning of steep county-level hikes and disproportionate impacts on Latino and Black enrollees.
- A GAO undercover review found 23 of 24 fictitious applications approved for subsidized coverage, fueling GOP calls for program-integrity changes as House Republicans debate options that exclude an extension.
- State and market officials caution that a lapse could raise costs beyond the exchanges, including small-business plans in states like Maine and broader premiums as uncompensated care grows.