Home Senate Democrats introduce healthcare affordability bill: Not just ‘concepts,’ but a real ‘plan’
Politics

Senate Democrats introduce healthcare affordability bill: Not just ‘concepts,’ but a real ‘plan’

Chris Graham
donald trump healthcare
(© Christopher Penler – Shutterstock)

Donald Trump is still working on the concepts of a healthcare plan. Senate Democrats, now in the minority in the senior chamber, have a plan in place.

The question: can they get Republicans to sign on?

(The answer: probably not.)

The Health Care Affordability Act, introduced last week, would lower healthcare costs for millions of Americans and make permanent the current enhanced Premium Tax Credits for Health Insurance Marketplace coverage.

The PTCs were created in the Affordable Care Act and enhanced under the American Rescue Plan Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

Problem is, they are set to expire at the end of this year, which would increase health insurance costs for more than 20 million Americans.

The Health Care Affordability Act would make the enhanced PTCs permanent, ensuring that people who qualify for them don’t face sudden cost increases or be left without coverage at all.

Without the extension, out-of-pocket premium payments across the Commonwealth are projected to increase as much as 33 percent, according to the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

“For years, the ACA premium tax credits have lowered health care costs and increased access to insurance for Virginians and their families,” U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both D-Va., said in a joint statement. “Through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, we further lowered costs for American families. But without action, these enhanced tax credits will expire. We are proud to introduce this legislation that will ensure more than 20 million Americans don’t face unfair cost increases at the end of the year.”

Video: ‘Concepts’ from Trump on healthcare, vs. an actual plan from Democrats


Support AFP




Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].

Latest News

crime scene yellow police tape
Local

Charlottesville: Police report shootout with suspect in early-morning incident

waynesboro map
Local

Still no update on the police vehicle break-ins in Waynesboro

Several vehicles in Waynesboro, including at least two belonging to officers with the Albemarle County Police Department, were broken into over a three-day period last week, and still, nothing on this from the Waynesboro Police Department.

donald trump jeffrey epstein
Politics, U.S. & World

Today in Trump’s America: Putting the ‘b’ in dumb, getting grabbed by the p—y

I swear to god, and I’m screenshotting this so that you can see that I’m not making this up, but Donald Trump, with the world at war because of his pea brain, posted this to his money-losing social media site this morning, at 10:52 a.m.

virginia state capitol
Politics, Virginia

Developing: House, Senate leaders announce Virginia budget agreement

special olympics
Etc.

Special Olympics Virginia headed to 2026 Special Olympics USA Games

justin verlander
Baseball

Goochland native, ODU alum Justin Verlander back on IL with hamstring injury

police court law
Local

Greene County: Former middle school teacher indicted in child sex case