WASHINGTON — A months-long push to shield millions of Americans from steep health-insurance cost increases collapsed Thursday as the Senate rejected two competing proposals to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits before they expire at year’s end.

In back-to-back procedural votes, senators blocked a Democratic plan to renew the subsidies for three years as well as a Republican alternative centered on expanding health savings accounts. Both measures fell short of the 60-vote threshold needed to advance, effectively guaranteeing that many marketplace consumers will face significantly higher premiums beginning Jan. 1.

Ahead of the votes, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., issued a blunt warning: without action, there would be “no second chance” to avert painful cost spikes

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