House Republicans confronted with 'Shame!' chants after leaving victorious health-care vote
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
House Republicans passed the American Health Care Act in a tight vote Thursday, sending the GOP health-care bill on to the Senate. The bill earned 217 affirmative votes — all from Republicans — just over the bare minimum required to pass the lower chamber.
The AHCA had been criticized for its restrictions on coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. Recent amendments to the bill enable states to waive the requirement for insurers to charge the same premiums for similarly aged individuals regardless of health status, which could send costs skyrocketing for sick individuals. A deal struck Wednesday allotted $8 billion over five years to supplement coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions, but because the Congressional Budget Office has yet to score the bill, it is unclear whether that is sufficient funding to fill the coverage gap.
As victorious Republican Congress members were leaving the chamber after Thursday's vote, they were confronted with protesters:
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The House Republican members were on their way to a beer-stocked celebration party at the White House. With Thursday's passage, the bill moves on to the Senate, where it is expected to face a steep uphill battle.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kimberly Alters is the news editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
