A major Republican push to overhaul ObamaCare and put health care dollars directly into the hands of American families suffered a setback in the Senate on Thursday—leaving millions of Americans bracing for sharply higher health insurance premiums in 2026.
The proposal failed to reach the 60 votes needed to advance, falling by a 51–48 margin. Democrats voted unanimously against the measure, while Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the only Republican to oppose it.
The defeat highlights just how difficult it remains for Congress to fix a health care system many Americans believe is broken—especially as costs continue to rise and families feel the squeeze.
What Republicans Tried to Change
The legislation was authored by Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho, two senior Republicans who say the current ObamaCare structure favors insurance companies over patients.
Their plan followed President Trump’s repeated calls to stop sending taxpayer dollars to big insurance companies and instead put that money directly into the hands of individuals and families.
Rather than extending existing ObamaCare subsidies, the proposal would have redirected those funds into Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for Americans who buy coverage on the ACA marketplace.
How the Plan Would Have Worked
Under the Cassidy-Crapo plan:
- Individuals could use HSA funds to cover out-of-pocket medical costs
- Americans would be encouraged to choose lower-premium, high-deductible plans
- Catastrophic insurance options would be expanded
- Patients—not insurers—would control how their health care money is spent
Supporters argued this would drive competition, lower costs, and give families more flexibility—especially younger Americans and working households.
Democrats Reject Reform, Push Status Quo
As health insurance premiums are expected to rise sharply next year, Democrats are pushing a different approach: simply extending enhanced ObamaCare subsidies for another three years.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticized the Republican proposal before the vote, arguing it didn’t go far enough because it refused to expand ObamaCare tax credits.
He dismissed the GOP plan as inadequate, claiming it would not immediately prevent premium hikes.
Republicans responded that Democrats are more interested in protecting ObamaCare itself than fixing the problems Americans face at the doctor’s office and the pharmacy counter.
Trump-Backed Patient-First Approach
Speaking on the Senate floor, Cassidy said the plan would have provided real relief, including:
- $1,000 per year in HSAs for individuals under age 50
- Up to $5,000 for a family of four
“This empowers patients to shop, drives competition, and lowers health care costs,” Cassidy said.
Crapo echoed President Trump’s position that families—not corporations—should decide where health care dollars go, pointing to recent Trump-era reforms that expanded HSAs and promoted more affordable coverage options.
Division Even Within the GOP
Not all Republicans were satisfied.
Some conservatives criticized the plan for operating within the ObamaCare framework rather than fully dismantling it. Sen. Rand Paul argued that while redirecting subsidies to HSAs might be an improvement, it still amounted to supporting ObamaCare.
Others worried the proposal did not extend enhanced subsidies set to expire early next year—raising concerns about short-term premium spikes.
Despite those reservations, several Republicans, including Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Bernie Moreno, voted in favor.
What This Means for Americans
For now, the vote leaves Congress deadlocked—and American families exposed to rising health insurance costs with no clear solution in sight.
The failure underscores a larger reality: even with President Trump pushing patient-centered reform, entrenched political divisions continue to block meaningful health care changes, while premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs keep climbing.
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