SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Congress remains deadlocked on how to address rising healthcare costs, leaving millions of Americans facing steep price hikes when enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies expire at the end of the year.
On Thursday, the U.S. Senate failed to pass two separate proposals aimed at extending tax credits for ACA health plans. Without action, Americans enrolled in Obamacare could see out-of-pocket costs jump by an average of 114%, according to an estimate from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
California health care leaders warn the consequences could be dire.
“Individuals who are seeking service for sometimes life-saving measures have to think about, ‘How are we going to pay for this?'” said Jessica Wilson, CEO of NAMI California.
MORE: Competing Democrat, Republican health care proposals both fail in the Senate
Dr. Rachel Ruiz, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Santa Clara Medical Center, said the impact will ripple across communities.
“If you’re in an accident, your health outcomes will be compromised,” Ruiz said. “We’re talking about California, not just uninsured or underinsured communities.”
Bipartisan push from California representatives
Several bipartisan bills in the House aim to prevent those circumstances, including a proposal from Rep. Sam Liccardo, D-San Jose, and Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, to extend ACA tax credits for two more years without increasing the deficit.
“I’ve heard from many people who say, ‘I just can’t afford it if I have to pay thousands of dollars more for health care,'” Kiley said.
But House Speaker Mike Johnson has signaled strong opposition.
“We just can’t get Republican votes on that for lots of reasons,” Johnson told reporters on Wednesday.
Kiley and other lawmakers are now working to force leadership’s hand.
MORE: 1 in 4 ACA enrollees would ‘very likely’ forego health insurance if premiums double
“It’s fallen upon some of us members who are more practically-minded to try to find a compromise that would be acceptable to enough people on both sides,” Kiley said.
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, says he’s encouraged by those efforts.
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” Padilla said. “These are all encouraging signs that it’s not just Democrats working across the aisle, but some Republican House members willing to participate and collaborate.”
The Congressional Budget Office estimates this expected lapse in tax credits could leave two million more Americans uninsured.
Liccardo and Kiley’s bill currently has at least 10 bipartisan co-sponsors.
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