The US House of Representatives passed a bill to extend the increased subsidies (premium tax credits) for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for three years by a vote of 230 to 196.[1][2] In addition to all the Democrats, 17 Republican deputies voted for the proposal, opposing the leadership of their own party.[2][3] The vote took place after the Democrats pushed the so-called "discharge petition", which forced the leadership of the House to put the proposal on the agenda.[1][3] The increased subsidies were originally introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to expand financial assistance and eligibility, and will expire at the end of 2025.[2][4] According to the Congressional Budget Office, a three-year extension would increase the federal deficit by about $80.6 billion over the next decade.[1][2] CBO also estimates that the extension would result in 100,000 more people having health insurance in 2026, 3 million more in 2027, 4 million more in 2028, and 1.1 million more in 2029 compared to today.[1][2] Currently, about 22 million of the 24 million people in ACA plans receive these increased tax credits to reduce monthly premiums.[2] The proposal now heads to the Senate, where an earlier, similar three-year proposal failed to get the necessary 60 votes, although four Republican senators also voted for it.[2]