The Senate is poised to vote on Thursday on two separate plans aimed at addressing a spike in health care costs that are expected for tens of millions of Americans who receive enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits unless Congress acts.Both plans, one put forward by Democrats and the other championed by Republicans, are almost certain to fail.After they do, lawmakers will have only a matter of days remaining to address the expiration of the enhanced tax credits, and there's little indication that any sort of breakthrough is on the horizon. Democratic plan: 3-year extension of expiring enhanced tax creditsSenate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks to reporters following a Senate Democratic policy luncheon at the U.S.Capitol, December 9, 2025 in Washington.Heather Diehl/Getty ImagesRepublicans unveil health care plan to counter Democratic effort to extend ACA subsidiesThe Democratic plan that will receive a vote on Thursday proposes a three-year extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that are otherwise set to expire on Jan.
1.The enhanced subsidies were originally put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.During remarks on the floor Wednesday, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the Democratic plan the "only realistic path left" to address the looming premium spike. "We have 21 days until Jan.
1.After that, people's health care bills will start going through the roof.
Double, triple, even more," Schumer said."There is only one way to avoid all of this.
The only realistic path left is what Democrats are proposing -- a clean direct extension of this urgent tax credit."Even though Democrats are in the minority, they are getting a vote on their proposal, as part of a deal struck by a small group of Senate moderates to re-open the federal government after a 43-day shutdown, which centered around Democrats' efforts to address the expiring tax credits."What we need to do is prevent premiums from skyrocketing and only our bill does it is the last tr...