When the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve, subsidies that had lowered monthly health care costs expired, sending ACA premiums sharply higher.
RELATED: House passes bill to extend health care subsidies in defiance of GOP leaders
Seventeen Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the measure, including Valley Congressman David Valadao.
"We worked with our own leadership on the Republican side to come to some sort of conclusion because there are reforms that are necessary," Valadao said.
Valadao said he has been pressing party leaders for months to address the issue.
"It affects thousands of people and something that we've been watching closely. I've been bringing it up to my leadership, this speaker and the whip in the majority leader for a good 67 months now, frustrated that they wouldn't work with us to come up with some sort of common sense proposal, so we started working with the Senate and we look for a vehicle to send over there," he said.
Valley Representative Jim Costa is touting this vote as a win for democrats and said in a statement, "The Senate must pass this legislation as soon as possible so this much-needed relief can be signed into law. Working families should not pay the price while Washington negotiates."
Hospitals nationwide are already feeling the strain, reporting an influx of uninsured patients in emergency rooms as many drop coverage they can no longer afford.
"Many people go without care. They're going to be without insurance. They can't afford those premiums. Well, it means that they're delaying care. It'll have an increase in hospital visits," said Peter Mojarras of Castle Family Centers.
Dr. Mohommad Ashraf, who practices at Madera Community Hospital, said rural communities will be hit hardest.
"We already have at least 50 to 20% people more in the emergency room then before, just anticipation," Ashraf said. "It's life or death."
The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it's unlikely to receive a vote.
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