United States Senators have rejected duelling health bills aimed at helping Americans deal with rising insurance costs in the new year.On Thursday, Republicans blocked a Democrat-led measure that would extend COVID-era subsidies for three years under the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listThe proposal was the congressional Democrats’ solution to address rising healthcare premiums next year. But the legislation failed to attract enough Republicans and fell short of the chamber’s 60-vote threshold to advance.All Democrats voted for the bill alongside four Republicans: Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan of Alaska, as well as Susan Collins of Maine and Josh Hawley of Missouri.Without the subsidies, premiums could more than double in cost on average, according to KFF, a health policy organisation.For some, like Nicole Sheaff, a mother of four in New Hampshire, her prices would quintuple.“I’m terrified we won’t be able to keep up with our mortgage. At the same time, going without health insurance is not an option. My husband has a chronic condition that he needs medication to manage, and he wouldn’t be able to afford it without health coverage. He’s lost family members to the same condition, and we simply can’t take that risk,” Sheaff said in testimony in front of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee earlier this month.Republican bill fails as wellA Republican-led proposal earlier in the day also failed to pass. The measure would have sent up to $1,500 to …
