Direct Payments of Up to $1,500 Proposed for Millions as ACA Deadline Nears Millions of Americans may soon see direct payments of $1,000–$1,500 added to their Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) under a new Republican proposal introduced this week. The plan comes as 23 million people face higher health care costs in January, with lawmakers still deadlocked over whether to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits expiring on December 31. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho unveiled a bill that would shift funding away from insurance companies and send the money directly to Americans. Their proposal closely aligns with former President Donald Trump’s recent push to redirect ACA subsidies into HSAs. Under the plan, ACA enrollees earning under 700% of the federal poverty level would receive: • $1,000 for adults ages 18–49 • $1,500 for adults ages 50–64 The funds would be tax-free, roll over each year, and could be used for qualified medical expenses — but not for abortion or gender-transition services. The proposal also includes restoring cost-sharing reduction payments, expanding access to catastrophic plans, and cutting Medicaid funding to states offering coverage to undocumented immigrants. Democrats are still pushing for a two- to three-year extension of the enhanced ACA subsidies and are expected to force a Senate vote later this week. That vote is likely to fail due to lack of Republican support, but both parties agreed to hold it as part of the deal to reopen the government after the record federal shutdown. What remains uncertain is whether the Cassidy-Crapo plan will gain enough backing among Senate Republicans. The conference is reviewing multiple competing ideas — including the CARE Act — during a closed-door meeting this week. With the deadline approaching and January costs rising, millions of Americans are watching closely to see which plan — if any — becomes law.