WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate will vote on Thursday on a Republican-proposed healthcare plan, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on Tuesday, ‍as Democrats continued to push for a three-year extension of expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies.

The COVID-era subsidies, which help offset premium costs for the plans, also known as Obamacare, are set to expire at year end, which could ‌affect up to 24 million people ‌who rely on the program.

Late on Monday, Republican Senators Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mike Crapo of Idaho, who chair two committees with oversight of healthcare, unveiled legislation they are seeking as an alternative to the Democrats’ plan.

“It actually does make health insurance premiums more affordable,” ‍Thune said as he announced that the Senate wou

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