U.S. Senate Rejects Proposal to Extend Health Care Subsidies

The United States Senate on Thursday rejected, by a vote of 51 in favor and 48 against, the Democratic proposal to extend Obamacare health care subsidies for three years, as well as the Republican initiative seeking to replace the program with a direct-payment model.

The decision by Congress doubles medical insurance expenses for millions of families, increasing the risk of health-related poverty. Both the Democratic and Republican proposals were rejected on the Senate floor.

Republicans opposed the Democratic plan, emphasizing that it would provide health coverage only to immigrants in irregular status.

In response, lawmakers proposed allocating up to 1,500 dollars for citizens to purchase private health insurance—an amount Democrats consider insufficient.

The budget impasse, driven by President Donald Trump following the recent government shutdown, resulted in the suspension of non-essential services, staff reductions in key agencies, and the freezing of funds for health programs.

U.S. citizens regularly denounce the accumulation of massive medical debt due to high costs, administrative inefficiencies, lack of equity, and dependence on private insurance, as well as persistent barriers to accessing medical care for low-income communities.