Thune says Senate GOP will offer alternative health care bill as Democrats seek to extend tax credits

Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader John Thune, plan to offer a GOP health care bill for a vote alongside Democrats’ proposal to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits later this week.

The Republican bill, the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act, would redirect funds to health savings accounts for bronze plan users rather than extending the tax credits, which Democrats say help 22 million Americans afford coverage.

Thune argued the GOP measure lowers premiums and benefits patients directly, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized it as “junk insurance.”

Both the Republican and Democratic bills are expected to fall short of the 60 votes needed to advance, though Democrats hope their proposal pressures Republicans politically, CBS News has reported.

Several other GOP plans have been proposed, some combining limited extensions of tax credits with HSA-style funding, but no consensus has emerged.