Bill Cassidy proposes plan for expiring health subsidies

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy’s proposal for covering the health care costs of millions of low-income workers and small businesses is gaining traction among the various proposals trotted out to address the Affordable Care Act health insurance – the key dispute in the historically long federal government shutdown.

Rather than simply extending enhanced tax credits that Democrats want and most Republicans oppose, the Baton Rouge Republican who chairs the Senate’s health committee would redirect the money into tax-free accounts. This would allow individuals to choose how the money would be spent, he said.

Qualified beneficiaries could decide on their ownheal whether to purchase a less expensive policy and use the money to pay higher deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket expenses, Cas