Overview
- Senators Bill Cassidy and Mike Crapo put forward a plan to replace enhanced ACA premium aid with one‑time HSA deposits of $1,000 for ages 18–49 and $1,500 for ages 50–64, paired with broader access to bronze and catastrophic coverage.
- According to a summary reported by Newsweek, the GOP proposal would continue cost‑sharing reduction payments, bar HSA use for abortion and gender transition care, expand catastrophic plans, and cut Medicaid funds to states that cover undocumented immigrants.
- President Donald Trump signaled support for redirecting funds to individuals rather than insurers, aligning with the Cassidy–Crapo approach.
- Democrats secured a separate vote on a clean multi‑year extension of the enhanced ACA tax credits, but both the extension and the GOP alternative will need 60 votes to advance.
- If the enhanced credits lapse on Dec. 31, analyses project sharp premium increases for more than 20 million people, about 4.8 million losing coverage, and a jump in uncompensated care, with one estimate citing average premium hikes of 114%.