Republicans’ healthcare plan collapsed this week but they’re not done yet – AOL
Senate Republicans came out 20 hours of debate with a stunning failure in their efforts to overhaul the US healthcare system, leaving President Donald Trump's agenda in tatters and the party with few clear options moving forward on healthcare.
From Tuesday to early Friday morning, the Senate voted on four new plans to repeal and/or replace the Affordable Care Act (three serious, one not-so-serious). All four were unsuccessful, including Friday morning's dramatic 2:00 a.m. vote that failed when Sen. John McCain cast his ballot against the measure.
RELATED: Lawmakers, politicians react to Republicans pulling health care bill
16 PHOTOS
Lawmakers, politicians react to Republicans pulling health care bill
See Gallery
Today was a victory for all Americans. https://t.co/LX6lzQXtBR
I want to thank @POTUS, @VP, @SecPriceMD, & @HouseGOP members. There remains so much we can do to help improve peop https://t.co/KIF3gh2VpQ
Today is a great victory but we have a lot more work to do. We are going to go forward and guarantee health care to https://t.co/3gnwfY94Lq
My statement on the #AHCA https://t.co/XhWEOh1cP4
Ultimately the #Trumpcare bill failed because of two traits that have plagued the Trump presidency: incompetence & broken promises.
#TrumpCare was about spite. It was brought up because they loved the optics of a vote on ACA's 7th annv -- not because it was a good idea.
I applaud House conservatives for keeping their word to the American people. I look forward to passing full repeal https://t.co/ftyj6sCw0v
.@HouseGOP I hope this means you're finally ready to get serious and work with us to improve the Affordable Care Ac https://t.co/r78FqnGiVr
I remain wholeheartedly committed to keeping the promise I made to my NC-11 constituents--to fully repealing and re https://t.co/o02kApIzQq
This is why we fight. When we get out there & fight, we can make a real difference.
Can't throw @POTUS under the bus. He is the BUS. My fellow republicans are figuring that out.
Hey Republicans, don't worry, that burn is covered under the Affordable Care Act
Art of the Squeal: I blame Democrats for a bill Republicans couldn't pass. I blame Obama. I blame Australian Prime https://t.co/fgtocQM5Bx
.@realDonaldTrump, @SpeakerRyan: we're not tired of winning yet. Ready when you are to talk real solutions to fix A https://t.co/QLU1WJA7S8
Here's my statement on the cancellation of the House vote on the American Health Care Act: https://t.co/nbDhvshFKU
HIDE CAPTION
SHOW CAPTION
The failure left Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell with no clear path forward. The Senate has been grappling for weeks with healthcare overhaul, running through different versions of legislation before settling on the more modest attempt with the aim of moving to a conference with the House of Representatives.
Even so, it's not the end of the road for the healthcare debate.
"This isn't the end for Repeal and Replace," Cowen analyst Rick Weissenstein said on Friday. "After seven years of railing against the ACA, GOP lawmakers can't just abandon the quest."
Of the three, the Trump administration's actions could inflict the most immediate damage on the ACA, Cynthia Cox, associate director at the Kaiser Family Foundation, told Business Insider. That could be through a decision to stop funding cost-sharing-reduction payments, which help offset costs for insurers, not enforcing the individual mandate, or not doing outreach to inform Americans about their health insurance options.
Going forward, the plan to repeal and replace the ACA might be less about sweeping changes and more about incremental tweaks.
"While it is hard to see a path forward for a comprehensive bill, the GOP is likely to try to attach discrete provisions aimed at defunding parts of the bill or unwinding some of the ACA's insurance or benefit mandates are likely," Weissenstein said.
And there's a chance that Medicaid is safe from huge cuts. Both the House and the Senate bill would have made drastic cuts to Medicaid, the government program that covers 74 million low-income Americans. Even the "skinny" bill that was the Senate's final vote on Friday morning didn't make any major changes to Medicaid. The changes to Medicaid were the sticking point for many Republican senators who had concerns about the bill going into the vote.
But, Cox said, the fact that Medicaid cuts were in both plans suggests that there will continue to be a desire to change the program. One Medicaid program in particular, the Children's Health Insurance Program, is coming up for a reauthorization vote in September, which could leave some room for Republicans to make some changes.
NOW WATCH: 'Do you even understand what you're asking?': Putin and Megyn Kelly have a heated exchange over Trump-Russia ties
See Also:
SEE ALSO: The Senate voted down a single-payer healthcare system and there's a specific reason Bernie Sanders opposed it
More from AOL.com: US Republicans try to pick up the pieces after health care defeat Trump urges Senate Republicans to move ahead with health care reform Trump's son-in-law faces Capitol Hill grilling over Russia contacts
More:
Republicans' healthcare plan collapsed this week but they're not done yet - AOL
- Were going to have a problem: Republicans want Trump to move on from 2020 - Politico - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- College Republicans group disbanded after students allegedly give Nazi salute - The Washington Post - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- LEADER JEFFRIES: REPUBLICANS HAVE MADE LIFE MORE EXPENSIVE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE - Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (.gov) - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Whats in the voting bill that Republicans are pushing to the Senate floor - The Seattle Times - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Trumps top priority is splitting Republicans and could reshape the Senate - MS NOW - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Inside the special session, and UF shuts down College Republicans - Bay News 9 - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- UF sued by College Republicans for deactivating club over Nazi salute - Miami Herald - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Senate Republicans worry theyre losing ground in the midterms - Politico - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Senate Republicans Tee Up Losing Fight Over SAVE America Act - NOTUS News of the United States - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- GOP HEALTH CARE MADNESS: Republicans Kick Millions off Their Coverage, Push Them Into Skimpy Plans, and Hike Out-of-Pocket Costs - Protect Our Care - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Dem in Maine House Primary Funneled PAC Money to Republicans - The Intercept - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- University of Florida College Republicans respond to deactivation of local chapter - WCJB - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- The University of Floridas College Republicans chapter was disbanded after a photo reportedly depicting two students giving a Nazi salute had been... - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Were going to have a problem: Republicans want Trump to move on from 2020 - Yahoo - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- List of Republicans Who Voted With Democrats on Transgender Bathroom Bill - Newsweek - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- What's in the voting bill that Republicans are pushing to the Senate floor - oskaloosa.com - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- New York State Assembly Republicans Introduce Bill to Amend HALT Act; Aiming to Improve Safety and Staffing in State Prisons - WENY News - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- What's in the voting bill that Republicans are pushing to the Senate floor - The Daily Gazette - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Apparently, Republicans Are Finally Tired Of Trump Lying About The 2020 Election - NewsOne - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Democrats need to stop pretending Republicans will turn on Trump - Daily Kos - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Republicans in a growing number of states press ahead with Trumps voting rules - CNN - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Republicans define victory in Iran as whatever Trump says it is - MS NOW - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Democrats are trouncing Republicans in state elections since Trump took office - Politico - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Republicans block Democratic bill to fund DHS agencies other than ICE, CBP - The Hill - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- President Trump spent months getting squeezed by top Senate Republicans to endorse the embattled Senator John Cornyn of Texas in order to avert a... - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- WATCH: Trump pushes voting bill on House Republicans at annual policy retreat in Florida - PBS - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- House Republicans find it difficult to focus on rising costs as they plot 2026 agenda - Politico - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Republicans and Democrats Are United in Their War on the Unhoused - Truthout - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Republicans Concede They Need to Pivot on Immigration Before Midterms - The New York Times - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Republicans blast NJ governors first budget as more of same - New Jersey Monitor - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Opinion | The hidden reason Republicans could outperform midterm expectations - The Washington Post - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- The Republicans hoping to win in Utahs new blue district - Deseret News - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- A record number of Republicans are leaving the House - CNN - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- House Republicans sweat Irans costs as they struggle to push economic agenda - CNN - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Trumps voting bill fixation strains Republicans to the breaking point - Semafor - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Republicans, Democrats address high gas prices stemming from Iran war - CBS News - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Trump says his bill would guarantee the midterms. House Republicans are moving on. - Politico - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Johnson and Republicans Eye Another Party-Line Reconciliation Bill - The Fiscal Times - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Republicans Are Holding the TSA and FEMA Hostage to ICE - New York Magazine - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Unity is elusive for House Republicans on key election-year affordability bill - Reuters - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Trump has one prescription for midterms. House Republicans have another - AP News - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- The Words of War Republicans Refuse to Say - The Bulwark - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- House Republicans seek path for Trump agenda amid war and election headwinds - Reuters - March 9th, 2026 [March 9th, 2026]
- House Republicans face internal and external headwinds as they gather to map out 2026 - Politico - March 9th, 2026 [March 9th, 2026]
- This week on The Hill: House Republicans head to Florida to sharpen agenda, message - The Hill - March 9th, 2026 [March 9th, 2026]
- How Noems Handling of Disaster Aid Angered Even Some Republicans - The New York Times - March 9th, 2026 [March 9th, 2026]
- LEADER JEFFRIES: REPUBLICANS ARE PLUNGING AMERICA INTO ANOTHER ENDLESS CONFLICT, BUT THEY CANT FIND A DIME TO LOWER BILLS Congressman Hakeem Jeffries... - March 9th, 2026 [March 9th, 2026]
- Senate Republicans Block War Powers Limits as Mideast Crisis Widens - The New York Times - The New York Times - March 9th, 2026 [March 9th, 2026]
- Gillespie County Republicans Scale Back Hand Count Amid Staffing Shortage - The Fulcrum - March 9th, 2026 [March 9th, 2026]
- House Republicans seek path for Trump agenda amid war and election headwinds - TradingView - March 9th, 2026 [March 9th, 2026]
- Republicans hope Mullin brings steady hand amid Trumps shakeup at DHS - The Washington Post - March 9th, 2026 [March 9th, 2026]
- NC Republicans cried wolf on election integrity. Its come back to bite them. | Opinion - Charlotte Observer - March 9th, 2026 [March 9th, 2026]
- Only six Iowa House Republicans voted against over-the-counter ivermectin - Bleeding Heartland - March 9th, 2026 [March 9th, 2026]
- DHS feeds talking points to Republicans as opposition to ICE warehouses swells - The Washington Post - March 9th, 2026 [March 9th, 2026]
- Republicans and Democrats wrestle over whether the U.S. has entered a 'war' as debate rages on where congressional authorization needs to come into... - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Congressional Republicans bring Trumps 'war on fraud' to Vermont - Vermont Public - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- As a California GOP lawmaker ascends, some Republicans accuse him of ruining the party - CalMatters - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- These 4 Democrats voted with Republicans to fund DHS - The Hill - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Ford wins over Democrats and Republicans as 'most American' brand in new survey - Fox Business - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Map: See where Texas Democrats outvoted Republicans in Tuesday's election - Houston Chronicle - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Trumps trade war has hurt farmers. There are new warning signs for Republicans. - Politico - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Trump's war in Iran polls badly, but will it hurt Republicans in 2026? - USA Today - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Republicans Toil to Avoid Saying War as Iran Conflict Widens - The New York Times - The New York Times - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- What happened in Texas is a warning: advocates say Republicans suppressed votes in the primaries - The Guardian - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Florida college Republicans group chat reveals racist texts: Avoid the coloreds like the plague - The Guardian - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- What's at stake for Democrats and Republicans in the Texas Senate primaries - PBS - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Republicans consider raising taxes on HMO's to cover Medicaid shortfall - KGAN - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- More Republicans now support strong leaders who bend the rules - Good Authority - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- House Republicans expand Medicaid fraud probe to ten states - Fox Business - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Republicans vote to end use of school IDs for NH elections - New Hampshire Public Radio - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Texas House Republicans ask Congress to halt all immigration after Austin shooting - The Texas Tribune - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Republicans finally questioned the Clintons about Epstein. They also asked about UFOs and pizzagate - PBS - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Rep. Upchurch: Republicans' Veto Override Leaves Local Communities Holding the Bag, Still No Real Property Relief for Majority of Ohioans - Ohio House... - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- The one big takeaway for Democrats and Republicans out of Texas - CNN - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Republicans Want to Protect the AI Industry as the Pentagon Cracks Down on Anthropic - News of the United States - NOTUS - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Could Texas Republicans Repeat the Mistake That Elected John Tower in 1961? - Fort Worth Magazine - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Chaffee County Democrats and Republicans Hold Caucus Meetings Tomorrow - Heart of the Rockies Radio | - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Racist messages among young Republicans are a five-alarm fire for the Miami GOP | Column - Tampa Bay Times - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Ohio Republicans are sounding the alarm about illegal Chinese vapes flooding the U.S. - Cleveland.com - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Nervous Republicans rally behind Cornyn as they wait on Trumps Texas pick - Politico - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]