Senate Nears Deal to Revive Expired Obamacare Subsidies as Bipartisan Talks Heat Up
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators says it’s narrowing differences on a deal to revive expired Obamacare (ACA) premium subsidies, potentially setting the stage for a Senate floor vote.
Negotiators led by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, are hashing out a compromise to extend the subsidies that expired at the end of 2025, leaving millions of Americans facing rising health insurance costs. According to Fox News, lawmakers from both parties have met several times and believe a proposal could be near completion.
The talks come after the House passed a three-year extension bill 230–196 with bipartisan support, including 17 Republicans who broke ranks with GOP leaders. That measure now heads to the Senate, but its fate there is uncertain as the upper chamber crafts its own approach.
Republican negotiators want new antifraud guardrails, income eligibility caps and assurances that taxpayer dollars won’t fund abortion services, while Democrats push for a straightforward renewal of the subsidies. That division has been a persistent roadblock this week.
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President Donald Trump weighed in, urging Republicans to “be a little flexible” in talks, particularly on abortion-related provisions, adding fresh complexity to the negotiation.
“It’s going to require a bit of give and take, but we’re working hard,” a GOP senator involved in talks said.
If senators can bridge their differences and agree on a bill text, it could help temper soaring insurance costs for Americans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. But if talks falter, millions may continue to shoulder higher premiums.
Senate leaders have scheduled further meetings this week to refine language and attempt to build the 60 votes needed to bring any compromise to the floor.
What happens next…
Lawmakers must reconcile the House bill with the Senate’s version or choose one path forward before insurers set 2026 premiums.
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