US Senate to vote Thursday on Republican healthcare plan

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WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate will vote on Thursday on a Republican-proposed healthcare plan, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on Tuesday, as Democrats continued to push for a three-year extension of expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies.

The COVID-era subsidies, which help offset premium costs for the plans, also known as Obamacare, are set to expire at year end, which could affect up to 24 million people who rely on the program.

Late on Monday, Republican Senators Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mike Crapo of Idaho, who chair two committees with oversight of healthcare, unveiled legislation they are seeking as an alternative to the Democrats’ plan.

“It actually does make health insurance premiums more affordable,” Thune said as he announced that the Senate would vote on the Republicans’ plan.

The plan would direct up to $1,500 into health savings accounts for individuals earning less than 700% of the federal poverty level. It also would bar the funds from being used for abortion or “gender transition services,” according to a summary released by the two senators.

They said the measure also would contain a provision to lower insurance premiums by 11% in 2027 and would reduce federal Medicaid funding to states that provide healthcare coverage to “illegal immigrants.”

Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters on Tuesday the Republican bill is “dead on arrival” and called it “junk insurance.”

A vote on Democrats’ proposal to extend the subsidies will also be held on Thursday, although the measure is unlikely to pass due to insufficient Republican support.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan and Katharine Jackson; Editing by David Gregorio)