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A plan that would have replaced the soon-to-expire COVID-era Obamacare subsidies with Health Savings Accounts has been blocked by Senate Democrats—who, along with Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), voted it down.
The Republican plan would have provided pre-seeded Health Savings Accounts to those who purchase bronze or catastrophic plans on the Obamacare exchange: $1,000 for individuals aged 18–49 and $1,500 for those aged 50–65.
It also contained language prohibiting taxpayer dollars from being used to pay for abortions.
The Senate also voted on a Democrat attempt to extend the subsidies, which is to failed due to Republican opposition. The GOP has been reluctant to even consider extending the enhanced premiums without major Obamacare reforms first.
The only Republicans to vote for the extended spending where Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan from Alaska, Maine's Susan Collins, Josh Hawley from Missouri.
The current enhanced Obamacare subsidies expire at the end of the year.