Sen. Bill Cassidy says "there's a deal to be had" on health care after failed Senate votes

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News

December 14, 2025 / 10:41 AM EST / CBS News


Washington — Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, said Sunday that "there's a deal to be had" on addressing health care costs after a pair of bills failed to secure enough support to advance in the Senate last week. "There has to be a meeting of the minds between Democrats and Republicans," Cassidy said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." Last week, the Senate rejected two bills aimed at lowering health care costs, as lawmakers struggle to reach consensus over how to address expiring tax credits that help millions of Americans purchase insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

While Democrats sought a three-year extension of the enhanced tax credits with their bill, Republicans offered their own legislation sponsored by Cassidy. Rather than extending the enhanced tax credits, the measure would redirect funds to health savings accounts for those who use bronze plans on state exchanges, allowing people to save on premiums by switching to the lower-tier plans, while giving them the ability to use the HSA funds toward their deductibles.

The Republican-led measure didn't pick up any support from Democrats during the dueling votes last week. But Cassidy said that in addition to their concern about the premiums, Democrats must acknowledge high deductibles, saying "you've got to put cash in the patient's pocket to pay the out of pocket."

"I would be willing to do a short-term extension of the premium tax credit for those people with higher premiums if they will concede that we've got to do something for the $6,000 out of pocket," Cassidy added. "I think there's a deal to be had here. We need to push for that deal."

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sen-bill-cassidy-health-care-subsidies-senate-deal/

---

From the total using the ACA (~24 million), nearly 1/3rd are already on the Bronze plan per this (PDF), cited here -

Nearly a third of the 24 million people who signed up for coverage under the A.C.A. last year enrolled in the least expensive kind of plan available to everyone, a so-called Bronze plan.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/health/obamacare-deductibles-premiums-health-insurance.html

Eliminate the subsidies and they will go bye bye.

The death panel GOP refused to participate in anything to do with the ACA (other than members of Congress being required to use it themselves, most likely all on the top tier plan), so they continue to be clueless - intentionally so - about the whole point. These folks don't have employer-provided health insurance and thus form a pool that helps them reduce the costs.

[NotHardly]

1. Congress gets free health care, thus their lack of commitment to the rest of us

Oh, and we pay for these sponges health care.

[24601]

8. Members of Congress and their designated staff were dropped from the overall FEHBP. "Section 1312 of the Affordable

Care Act requires that Members of Congress and their official staff obtain coverage by health plans created under the Affordable Care Act or coverage offered via an Affordable Insurance Exchange (Exchange)."

"Members of Congress and designated congressional staff who are subject to §1312 of the Affordable Care Act must purchase a health benefits plan on the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP). SHOPs were established to administer group health benefits to employees of eligible businesses. Given the location of Congress in Washington DC, OPM determined that the DC SHOP, known as the DC Health Link Small Business Market administered by the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority, is the appropriate SHOP from which Members of Congress and designated congressional staff will purchase health insurance in order to receive a government contribution."

"The formula for government contributions is the same formula used for other federal employees. The government contribution will equal the lesser of: (1) 72 percent of amounts OPM determines are the program-wide weighted average of premiums in effect each year, for Self Only and for Self and Family enrollments, respectively, or (2) 75 percent of the total premium for the particular plan an enrollee selects."

Source: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/changes-in-health-coverage/eligibility-enrollment/#url=Members-of-CongressStaff

[Srkdqltr]

2. The best deal is. LEAVE IT THE HECK ALONE.

[FakeNoose]

6. They wrecked the ACA during Chump's first term ... it's a ticking time bomb

The financing of the ACA will take the whole program down if Congress doesn't fix it very soon. It's a shame that Biden couldn't get it done during his 4 years, but we all know how Congress undercut him at every turn.

Long story short ... something has to be done ... very quickly! (And hopefully it will be a permanent solution.)

[wolfie001]

9. This pig of a saboteur struck first

I'll forever hate her
[img][/img]

[bronxiteforever]

3. Here's a deal for Doctor Cassidy

Impeach RFK jr due to his destruction of American healthcare.

[MLWR]

4. I am completely not interested in anything

any doctor who voted for the brain-worm infested heroin addict has to say about anything medical.

[Turbineguy]

5. Insurance plans should be financed

with bonds instead of equity.

[Hope22]

7. The problem will never be solved by people who don't want to solve it.

Cut health care for Congress and then I’m certain there’s a deal to be had. In the meantime they threaten the entire US system.

[Roy Rolling]

10. Who the Fuck Cares?

Why do news outlets feed us slop like what Cassidy says? Morons and liars don’t deserve fourth chances. Too much “news”, too much advertisement, too much propaganda.

Commercial media at its best, it’s no wonder PBS is under the gun.

On edit: this moron is MY senator.