WASHINGTON — President Trump’s emerging plan to modify the Affordable Care Act is prompting early reactions from Tennessee’s congressional delegation, with Reps. Tim Burchett and John Rose offering support for the White House’s direction as policymakers look for options to prevent potential disruptions to marketplace coverage.
The administration’s proposal — first reported by Politico on Nov. 23 — would extend enhanced ACA marketplace subsidies for two more years but add new limits and structural changes. Those include capping subsidy eligibility at roughly 700 percent of the federal poverty level, requiring all enrollees to pay at least some premium, limiting “zero-premium” scenarios, and allowing consumers to retain a portion of unused subsidy value through a tax-advantaged account if they choose lower-cost plans.
Trump, in a Nov. 18 post, argued that ACA subsidies currently “go to the big, fat, rich insurance companies,” and said the only acceptable path forward is “sending the money directly back to the people.”
Roughly 22 million Americans rely on marketplace subsidies, and several states have warned of steep premium increases if the enhanced credits lapse without a transition plan. Health-policy analysts expect the administration to refine and publicly release its proposal soon.
Burchett: Proposal “gets us to the table”
In a video posted on X, Rep. Tim Burchett said the White House framework should be treated as a legitimate starting point for broader negotiations.
“A lot of folks are getting nervous because the President of the United States has the audacity to propose some changes to the ACA,” Burchett said. “Everybody’s gonna freak out, clutch their pearls… Look, that’s the way you negotiate — you put something on the dadgum table and then you fight over it.”
Burchett said the draft plan would at least prevent immediate coverage disruptions while addressing what he described as weak oversight in the current law.
“At least Trump’s proposal does something over a two-year period… it verifies that it’s not a bunch of frauds going on,” he said. “We haven’t done anything in what, 15 years? Everybody’s griping and moaning about it. At least Trump’s got the guts to do something about it.”
Rose: Focus on patients, not insurers
Rep. John Rose also expressed support for the administration’s direction in an interview on CNN, saying Republicans must balance the needs of constituents with the need to reform how the ACA functions.
“I think we have to be very careful because we don’t pull the rug out from under people,” Rose said. “But we also have to acknowledge the reality that Obamacare… has not delivered on the promise to lower health care costs and lower insurance premiums.”
When pressed on whether he would support extending subsidies in the short term, Rose said any solution must prioritize access to care rather than reinforcing the subsidy structure itself.
“The goal is to get health care for Americans, not necessarily health insurance — and certainly not subsidies to health insurance companies,” he said. “I think actually getting resources in the hands of Americans… that’s the end goal.”
Rose also backed Trump’s emphasis on redirecting funds toward patients instead of insurers, saying reforms should foster competition and allow doctors and patients to make decisions without insurer interference.
What comes next
While Tennessee’s Republican delegation has not coalesced around a single approach, comments from Burchett and Rose reflect an openness to extending subsidies as long as changes accompany them. Democrats have pushed for a clean extension without structural revisions, warning that additional requirements could disrupt enrollment.
Other members of Tennessee’s congressional delegation, including both U.S. senators, had not publicly commented on the proposal at press time.
The White House is expected to release formal details of the proposal as discussions continue over how to prevent coverage gaps heading into 2026.
Discover more from TNPOLITICO
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
