MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Millions of Americans who buy health insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplace will soon have to pay a lot more unless Congress clinches a last-minute deal. Here's NPR's Saige Miller.
SAIGE MILLER, BYLINE: As the calendar inches closer to January 1, Congress is at a stalemate on how to address health care costs. Senate Republicans and Democrats both put forth competing health care plans, but neither met the 60-vote threshold needed to advance.
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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: On this vote, the yeas are 51, the nays are 48. Three-fifths of the senators duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, the motion is not agreed to.
MILLER: The outcome was expected. Democrats want a straight three-year extension of the Obamacare subsidies, but Republicans aren't on board. Senate Majority Leader John Thune says a simple extension would not deal with fraud or taxpayers sending money to insurance companies through the subsidies.
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JOHN THUNE: The way that we think this ought to work is you ought to come up with a way in which you can deliver the benefit to the patients and not to the insurance companies.
MILLER: The GOP alternative would put some money into health savings accounts for Americans on certain Obamacare plans. But it doesn't extend the subsidies, and the money can't be used to pay for health care premiums. Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, says the bill was a nonstarter because it doesn't address rising health care costs on the ACA exchanges.
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CHUCK SCHUMER: When families open their health insurance bills in January and see the sky-high premiums staring back at them, the American people will know that Democrats fought to stop these hikes, but Republicans fought to guarantee that they happen.
MILLER: The White House responded to the failed votes on Thursday. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Republicans aren't done with the issue.
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KAROLINE LEAVITT: The president and Republicans will continue to unveil creative ideas and solutions to the health care crisis that was created by Democrats.
MILLER: The battle on the Hill isn't over either. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise says the chamber is set to vote on other health care plans that address the entire system and not just the exchanges.
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STEVE SCALISE: Starting next week, voting in the House on bills that will focus on lowering premiums for 100% of Americans.
MILLER: Republicans have not said what will be in those bills. But one thing is clear - if Congress doesn't come to a consensus on health care by year's end, premiums are set to skyrocket.
Saige Miller, NPR News.
(SOUNDBITE OF ROB FORD EXPLORER'S "PHOENICIA") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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