Illinois congressman hails health care win, experts question Senate path, costs

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – An Illinois congressman praised a bipartisan House vote extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, framing the legislation as a victory for families facing rising health care costs.

U.S. Rep Eric Sorensen, D-Rockford, posted a video to social media as he walked off the House floor.

“We just successfully passed bipartisan legislation to prevent health care costs from skyrocketing,” said Sorensen.

The measure extends expanded ACA premium tax credits first enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which lower out-of-pocket insurance costs for enrollees. According to the Congressional Budget Office, however, extending those subsidies comes with a significant price tag.

The CBO estimates the policy would cost taxpayers roughly $30 billion per year, a figure not mentioned in Sorensen’s remarks.

Sorensen pointed to past budget standoffs as evidence that the vote marked a shift in Washington’s approach to health care policy.

“You remember the government shut down last year because House Republicans refused to work with Democrats on a solution to lower health insurance premiums for millions of Americans,” he said.

William McBride, chief economist at the Tax Foundation, told TCS higher subsidies can actually push costs higher by increasing demand and masking inefficiencies in ACA plans and exchange, costs that ultimately fall on consumers.

Despite the House vote, economists say the bill’s future remains uncertain. McBride noted the subsidy extension could be bundled into broader negotiations to avoid a government shutdown at the end of January. Even then, he said, it is unclear whether the measure could win the 60 votes needed in the Senate, where concerns over the long-term taxpayer cost of the subsidies remain a significant hurdle.

Senator Bernie Moreno, R-OH, told reporters the House’s work product is dead on arrival.

“What the House is going to pass tomorrow will not pass in the United States Senate. It probably wouldn’t be put on the floor, because why waste floor time on something we’ve already considered?” said Moreno in a gaggle.

“After weeks of speaking out against Republican plans to kick people off of their health insurance, we won to deliver affordable health care for families across the country,” Sorensen said following passage of the bill.

Sorensen pointed to the House vote as evidence that sustained public engagement can influence policy outcomes.

“What this vote today demonstrates is that your voice matters,” he said, urging constituents to continue contacting their elected officials.

The legislation would extend enhanced ACA tax credits for three years, at an estimated taxpayer cost of about $90 billion, based on CBO projections cited by McBride. As lawmakers head into budget talks later this month, questions remain over whether the Senate will act on the measure, and how its cost would ultimately be financed.

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