Ohio’s two senators agree premiums will go up if a bipartisan compromise on the Affordable Care Act doesn’t get through Congress. Other than that, though, they don’t agree on much, including whether the compromise should get through Congress.
The Murray-Alexander plan would extend for two years the federal subsidies that act as a kind of rebate to insurance companies to cover deductibles and copayments for lower-income people. President Trump has suspended the subsidies, and without them, everyone who buys insurance on the individual exchanges will likely pay more.
GOP Sen. Rob Portman says the Murray Alexander bill doesn’t do enough.
“I was not opposed to the administration continuing the payments. But if we’re going to legislate on it, it should be something that makes a difference in a significant way.”
Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown says the compromise is an important step.
“It stabilizes the insurance markets, it brings in more young healthy people into the insurance pools. We need to go further to keep prices down by going after drug companies that over-charge and fleece the public.”
The compromise also would give states more flexibility under the Affordable Care Act and allow more people to buy low-cost plans.
Here's an NPR story on the details of the bill.
