MILES PARKS, HOST:
This week, the Senate is set to vote on health care subsidies with a looming deadline. Twenty-four million Americans use Affordable Care Act marketplaces for their health insurance, and they need to pick a plan by December 15. But those shoppers right now are caught in limbo, not knowing what they're going to pay. Amy Jackson from Butler, Missouri, is one of them. She spoke recently with NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin about her health insurance costs with and without an ACA subsidy.
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AMY JACKSON: Right now, it's closer to 300. However, if you don't count the tax credit, it goes to 1,250.
SELENA SIMMONS-DUFFIN: And do you have an extra $1,000 a month?
JACKSON: No. No, I really don't.
PARKS: So where is this headed? For that, let's bring in NPR's Luke Garrett, who's been monitoring the rumblings on Capitol Hill. Hi, Luke.
LUKE GARRETT, BYLINE: Hey, Miles.
PARKS: So tell us what the Senate is voting on this week.
GARRETT: So the Senate is expected to vote on a Democratic proposal to extend the ACA tax credits for three years. This would keep prices relatively the same for folks like Amy Jackson. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says the vote will be on Thursday, and he's calling it the GOP's, quote, "last chance" to prevent what he calls, quote, "skyrocketing premiums."
PARKS: But Schumer is the minority leader. Why is he determining when a vote like this happens?
GARRETT: Right. So do you remember when the moderate Democrats made that deal to reopen the government after the longest shutdown in history?
PARKS: Yeah, of course.
GARRETT: So in that deal, Democrats negotiated for a vote on the ACA in early December, and we're here. Schumer is picking up this three-year extension legislation as that vote. And the problem for Democrats is, you know, even with this vote, they're still going to need a few Republicans, that is, to join them for the 60-vote threshold.
PARKS: So what are Republicans saying about the idea of this three-year extension on the ACA subsidies?
GARRETT: Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters last week that Schumer's plan is just not realistic for the GOP caucus. Here's Republican Senator Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania on Fox News this morning.
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DAVE MCCORMICK: The Democrats are engaged in theater right now. They're putting forward this week a three-year extension of those subsidies from COVID.
GARRETT: But McCormick did stress that Congress needs to figure out a solution for ACA premium costs that are really going to go up.
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MCCORMICK: I do think we need to address this issue, particularly for working families. So I'd be in favor of some sort of limited extension that reformed those subsidies.
GARRETT: So Miles, there is a growing, you know, momentum within the GOP caucus for some sort of Band-Aid solution on these expiring ACA subsidies, but no consensus has been reached.
PARKS: Well, President Trump obviously has a lot of sway with congressional Republicans. Has he weighed in at all on this?
GARRETT: So President Trump has remained relatively hands-off, chiming in occasionally on his social media platform. His policy message has remained critical of the ACA, and Trump has instead suggested sending money to American health saving accounts. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana tells Fox News he's working to turn Trump's idea into bill text as soon as today.
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BILL CASSIDY: We're working to deliver to speaker - Leader Thune and Speaker Johnson a plan, which I think could get 60 votes, which gives the American people the power. And they can choose a lower premium and an HSA. We're working on that, and I'll give them a piece of paper probably by email tonight.
GARRETT: But Miles, I asked the White House today whether, you know, they've reviewed this, quote, "piece of paper" Cassidy's referring to and Cassidy's efforts. In a statement, spokesman Kush Desai, you know, did not comment on Cassidy's legislation directly or the ACA extensions. Instead, Desai said the health care system is just not working, and, quote, "the president has instead focused on lowering prescription drug costs by hammering out deals with pharmaceutical companies."
PARKS: OK. So as we head into next week, what else are you watching?
GARRETT: In short, GOP Leader John Thune - last week, he told reporters that Republicans will have a plan, which we have still yet to see. But even with the majority, Thune will need Democratic help. And those same moderate senators who sided with Republicans to reopen the government are the ones to watch. But again, even if they strike a deal in the Senate, the GOP-controlled House will also have to pass it, and Trump would have to sign it. But looming over all this, Miles, is the big motivating factor of, you know, growing dissatisfaction with rising costs. And that force could inspire bipartisan health care legislation or launch, you know, a political blame game on Capitol Hill.
PARKS: That is NPR's Luke Garrett. Thank you so much.
GARRETT: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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