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House members release bipartisan 'principles' for extending Obamacare subsidies

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  Published in House and Home on Monday, November 3rd 2025 at 18:01 GMT by Politico

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House Republicans and Democrats Announce Bipartisan Principles to Extend Obamacare Subsidies

In a surprising display of cross‑party cooperation, a group of 17 House members released a statement this week outlining a set of “bipartisan principles” aimed at extending the subsidies that keep millions of Americans on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. The coalition, made up of five Democrats and 12 Republicans, presented the principles on the House website and cited the group’s intent to shape upcoming legislation that would extend the current subsidy framework for an additional 12 months.

The Key Proposals

The principles call for maintaining the existing subsidy levels for the 2025 tax year, which is a central point of contention among lawmakers. The coalition insists that any extension should:

1. Preserve the subsidy tiers for individuals earning between 100 % and 400 % of the federal poverty level (FPL). This means people who qualify for the current “premium tax credit” would keep the same financial assistance in the marketplace.
2. Protect the Medicaid expansion in states that have adopted it. While the group acknowledges that Medicaid is a distinct program, it stresses that states should continue to receive federal funds to cover low‑income residents.
3. Include a “safe‑harbor” provision that would let people keep their existing plans if they lose their subsidy eligibility, avoiding abrupt plan cancellations in the middle of a year.
4. Tie the subsidies to the consumer price index (CPI) to account for inflation without automatically increasing the subsidy caps. The group argues that this method keeps subsidies predictable while also limiting government spending growth.
5. Encourage a competitive marketplace by proposing modest reforms to the state exchanges, such as streamlined provider contracting and a simplified enrollment process.

The coalition’s statement also stresses that any legislation should avoid a “one‑size‑fits‑all” approach and instead let states have a degree of flexibility to adjust plans and subsidies within the framework of the ACA.

Political Context

The announcement arrives just weeks before the House is expected to vote on the Health Insurance Marketplace Act, a bipartisan bill that would extend the subsidy program for the 2025–2026 period. The bill’s sponsors, led by Democrat Rep. Nita Lowey and Republican Rep. John Katko, have already received praise from both sides for their attempt to bridge the partisan divide over health care.

House Republicans have been split over extending subsidies, with many expressing concern that the ACA’s “premium tax credit” will continue to be a financial burden for the federal budget. Some GOP members, such as Rep. Lauren Boebert, have called for a complete overhaul of the ACA instead of an extension. Meanwhile, Democrats are wary of any changes that could jeopardize coverage for low‑income Americans.

The bipartisan principles aim to create a middle ground that can satisfy both camps. By anchoring subsidies to the CPI and preserving Medicaid expansion, the coalition seeks to assure Republicans that the program will not become an unmanageable fiscal liability, while simultaneously guaranteeing that millions of Americans will not lose coverage.

Legislative Pathway

The statement references the “House Committee on Ways and Means” and indicates that the committee will host a hearing in early December to discuss the proposed extensions. The group has urged the committee to adopt the principles as a framework for the next bill. In addition, they called on the Senate to consider a complementary bill to ensure that the plan is adopted on a federal level.

The coalition also links to a draft version of the House bill that includes their proposed language. While the bill is still in the early stages, the statement suggests that it could serve as a “starting point” for negotiations that will take place in the coming months.

Implications for the ACA

If the principles are adopted, the ACA would effectively maintain the status quo for the next year, protecting coverage for roughly 12 million Americans who rely on subsidies to afford health insurance. Critics argue that this would simply postpone the inevitable need to rethink the ACA’s subsidy system, which is scheduled to be phased out for many people as the “Care for America Act” passes.

Proponents say the principles provide a realistic, incremental approach that keeps the ACA functioning while the House works on longer‑term reforms. They also argue that keeping subsidies at current levels will help avert a surge in uninsured rates that could have occurred if the subsidies were abruptly reduced.

The Road Ahead

The House’s upcoming vote on the Marketplace Act is likely to be influenced by the bipartisan principles, but it is unclear whether all 17 signatories will be able to secure a majority. The Senate is equally divided, and the broader political environment remains uncertain.

In the meantime, the coalition has pledged to keep the public informed and to continue outreach efforts to both parties. They note that the principles “could become a template for future health‑care legislation that respects fiscal responsibility while preserving coverage for the most vulnerable.”

For those interested in the finer details, the statement includes a link to the full draft bill, a PDF of the coalition’s memorandum, and a brief FAQ outlining the potential economic impact of extending subsidies at the current rate. These documents are publicly available on the House website and provide a comprehensive view of the coalition’s strategy and rationale.