Senators rejected a Democratic bill to extend the subsidies for three years and a Republican alternative that would have created new health savings accounts.
Republicans have argued that Obamacare plans are too expensive and need to be overhauled. The health savings accounts in the GOP bill would give money directly to consumers instead of to insurance companies, an idea that has been echoed by President Donald Trump.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said ahead of the vote that a simple extension of the subsidies is “an attempt to disguise the real impact of Obamacare's spiraling health care costs.”
The Senate voted 51-48 not to move forward on the Democratic bill, with four Republicans -- Maine Sen. Susan Collins, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley and Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan -- voting with Democrats. The legislation needed 60 votes to proceed, as did the Republican bill, which was also blocked on a 51-48 vote.
In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has promised a vote next week.
