Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio said on Wednesday that Republicans are preparing to issue their “best and final” offer to Democrats on how to address the expired enhanced Obamacare subsidies, a proposal that aims to extend temporary financial help while imposing new limits and reforms.
Moreno, who has been one of the lead negotiators on the issue, said the package will soon be in Democrats’ hands. He described it as the maximum deal Republicans can support, framing it as a final proposal that reflects the party’s priorities and concerns about cost and eligibility.
The negotiations focus on extending the enhanced premium tax credit, the part of the Affordable Care Act that provided lower health insurance premiums for many Americans in recent years. Without action from Congress, those extra subsidies have expired, and many enrollees could see their costs rise significantly.
Under the Republican proposal, the enhanced subsidies would be extended for two more years instead of three. The plan also seeks to restrict eligibility for high‑income individuals. Lawmakers proposing the deal want to set income caps at 700 percent of the federal poverty level so that wealthier Americans would no longer qualify for the subsidies. The proposal would continue the enrollment period for Obamacare to ensure Americans can benefit from lower costs.
To address concerns about fraud and cost, the negotiators are also proposing minimum premium requirements and other reforms. The plan would expand the use of health savings accounts to give consumers more control over their health care spending. As part of the framework, the group has also recommended maintaining current restrictions on using federal dollars for abortion services.
Moreno told Breitbart News Saturday host Matthew Boyle that the proposal is intended to make health insurance more affordable while protecting taxpayers and curbing abuse of the system. He said the deal would lower premiums by around 11 percent and reduce federal spending through cost‑sharing reduction mechanisms.
Sen. Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with Democrats and has participated in the bipartisan negotiations, said on Wednesday that he believes lawmakers are getting close to an agreement. King said the group is solid and hopes the bill can move forward once broader budget issues are resolved in Congress.
Moreno emphasized that the offer is significant and noted that if enacted, it would allow a sitting president to point to lowered health insurance costs under the law. He said that President Trump has publicly highlighted efforts to reduce premiums for Americans and that the proposal reflects that priority.
The “best and final” package represents a key moment in efforts to reinstate enhanced subsidies that helped millions of people keep insurance affordable. It also highlights divisions within and between parties as lawmakers seek to balance cost, eligibility, and fiscal responsibility in shaping federal health care policy moving forward.
