Even before House Republicans finally released their plan to repeal and replace the ACA, 4 Senate Republicans have signaled that they may vote against it. With little chance of Democratic defections, that would kill any chance of the bill passing the upper house.
4 Republican senators from states that accepted Medicaid expansion — Murkowski, Portman, Capito, and Gardner — sent majority leader Mitch McConnell this letter expressing opposition to any replacement that ends access to those who gained healthcare coverage from the Medicaid expansion. Republican governors from states with Medicaid expansion have also been vocal about their opposition to such an irresponsible repeal as they would have to handle the immediate fallout.
The other senator from Kentucky, a state that has also benefited greatly from the ACA, has been vocal about his opposition for the opposite reason. He demands a full repeal despite the benefits to his own state. If the far right also votes against the House’s bill, the Senate could deliver a stunning rebuke to the lower house’s Republican caucus.