The failure of both Democratic and Republican proposals means lawmakers have little time left before the new year to reduce costs for Obamacare enrollees.
President Trump announces donation to cover medical costs
President Trump said he supports Senate Republicans’ plan to give Americans up to $1,500 to cover health care costs, rather than extending ACA subsidies.
WASHINGTON – The Senate on Dec. 11 refused to consider a bill that would prevent health insurance premiums from rising next year for millions of Obamacare enrollees.
A vote Republicans had planned for November to persuade Democrats to end the longest government shutdown in history was rejected, effectively leaving lawmakers with no time until a holiday break to cushion the economic blow looming for many Americans. Federal subsidies that millions of Americans rely on from the Affordable Care Act will expire next January, causing premiums to double or triple in many cases.
“To my Republican colleagues, I say, our bill is the last train to leave the station,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said before the vote. “If Republicans don’t get on board, we won’t have another chance to act before premiums skyrocket next year.”
Notably, four Republicans, including Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, defected in an effort to extend the aid. The final tally was 51 for, 48 against, with Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) not voting. The bill needed 60 votes to pass.
Hawley told reporters the day before the vote, “I think the insurance premiums are realistic, so I’m positive about the extension.”
Although the bill’s failure was expected, it stands out as a disappointing outcome for many Democrats who have been fighting for months against what seemed like an inevitable outcome. Extending Obamacare subsidies was the main opposition of Democrats during the 43-day government shutdown, but there is now little time left to address rising costs.
Still, it’s increasingly likely that Republicans in both chambers of Congress may want to consider legislation in the coming months aimed at making health care more affordable for Americans. Democrats have already solidified the issue as a centerpiece of their mid-term messaging strategy for 2026.
In addition to rejecting the Obamacare vote, lawmakers on Dec. 11 refused to advance another Republican proposal that would have required eligible consumers to deposit $1,000 to $1,500 annually into health savings accounts (HSAs). While the proposal would have helped Americans struggling to pay for health care, it would not fully address the issue of expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies (provided in the form of tax credits).
“The insurance premium tax credit enhancements we are discussing today, whether extended or not, do not change the fact that insurance premiums are rising,” said Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), one of the Republican bill authors. “The numbers are skyrocketing because our current health care system is broken.”
This motion was also rejected by most parties, with 51 in favor and 48 against. Daines did not vote again, and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voted against it.
Zachary Schermele is a Congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can email us at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and on Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social..
