Bipartisan House bill proposes extension of Obamacare subsidies

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced legislation to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies for two years.

The bill is backed by Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), and Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.), aiming to break congressional gridlock.

The big picture: The extension would cover enrollees earning less than $200,000 annually for a family of four, with phased-out support for those earning $200,000–$300,000; currently, there is no income cap. • The legislation introduces new measures to combat fraud, including preventing “ghost beneficiaries” and strengthening checks on enrollee eligibility and status. • Marketplace authorities would gain increased power to remove fraudulent actors and confirm enrollees are active and eligibl