House passes GOP healthcare bill 213-209, Americans can now buy insurance in groups without ACA subsidies

A tight vote, but they just handed Americans a new way to beat high premiums.

What to know about the House debate on health care:

  • The House has passed a GOP-backed health care bill that does not include an extension of expiring tax credits that help millions of Americans pay for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
  • The bill faces an unclear future in the Senate, where it would need support from several Democrats to pass.
  • GOP leaders unveiled the bill, known as the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, last week. It would expand association health plans, lower premiums for some Affordable Care Act enrollees and enact reforms aimed at decreasing drug costs.
  • But the exclusion of an extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits sparked a revolt by a handful of moderate Republicans earlier in the day — none of whom ultimately voted against the bill. Four GOP members signed a Democratic discharge petition to force a vote on extending the subsidies for three years, teeing up a final vote early in the new year.
  • The moderates have argued that letting the subsidies expire on Jan. 1 would lead to price hikes for millions of Americans and give Democrats a potent political issue heading into next year’s midterm elections.
  • The successful discharge petition was a direct rebuke of House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has refused to bring an extension up for a vote. He insisted earlier in the day that he has not lost control of the House.

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/house-health-care-vote-republicans-congress/