Republicans seek an alternative to Obamacare

Government Shutdown Impact - The US federal government is reopening after the longest shutdown in history [1] - Flight reductions remain at 6% for the busiest airports, but are expected to decrease in the coming days [5] - Over 40 million Americans lost access to their full SNAP benefits for part of November [6] - Full restoration of SNAP benefits could take up to a week in some places [8] Financial and Economic Implications - Homeland Security Secretary gave out $10,000 bonuses to TSA employees in Houston [1] - Approximately $35 billion a year of ACA funds are at stake, with potential premium hikes for about 22 million Americans if the funding expires [9] Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Healthcare - Republicans are still opposed to the ACA and are considering alternatives, including expanding funding for health savings accounts and association health plans [10][11] - Republican plans aim to deregulate the insurance market, potentially leading to lower costs for some but higher costs for the sickest and lowest-income individuals [11]