(NewsNation) — With the House set to vote tomorrow on the GOP’s health care plan, Sen. John Fetterman says he is calling for a one-year extension on health care subsidies to help all parties involved.
“I’m saying, look, we have just a couple of days left before we’re out. Why not just do an extension for one year?” the Pennsylvania Democrat told “CUOMO” on Tuesday.
“And that way, we can say, ‘Merry Christmas,’ and we deliver that, and people can put their minds at ease and have that one more year of this. We could spend 2026 to negotiate and make the kinds of appropriate changes to make it much more durable.”
The Congressional Budget Office acknowledged if the plan passes, the government would save nearly $36 billion. However, it could lead to 100,000 fewer people having health insurance every year.
The Republicans’ package would also clamp down on middlemen called pharmacy benefit managers who work to manage drug costs and process claims for insurance plans. The bill would also expand access to what’s referred to as association health plans, which would allow more small businesses and self-employed individuals to band together and purchase health coverage.
The maneuvering surrounding the health care vote all but guarantees that many Americans will see substantially higher insurance costs in 2026.
“I’ve been just consistently trying to push, ‘Hey, you know what, they have their views. We have ours.’ We want our three-year extension, and that’s a nonstarter as well, too. And what the Republicans put out last week, that was a nonstarter. We didn’t get a single Democrat to vote for those.”
Democratic Party not using subsidies fight for political theater: Fetterman
Fetterman was clear that the subsidies fight from his party isn’t for show just a month after the government shutdown ended.
“Its (ACA subsidies) are going to impact plenty of people,” he said. “I’m aware we have a little over 400,000 people in my state who receive those kinds of things.”
“And some of the highest kinds of increases are in the deepest, deepest red counties in my state. That’s going to touch their own people. And that’s manifold on top of the Big, Beautiful Bill that’s going to impact rural hospitals and things, too.”
Because there’s not enough time for true resolution, Fetterman states that the one-year extension would also benefit Republicans because they are also calling for significant changes.
“It’s reasonable to make some kinds of changes,” said Fetterman. “But it’s not possible to do that before the end of the year at this point.”