WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has approved bipartisan legislation that would exempt U.S. health plans sold to expatriate workers from having to comply with requirements under the Affordable Care Act.

The measure, which passed Tuesday on a vote of 268-150, is aimed at helping U.S. insurance companies that compete with foreign firms that do not have to comply with patient protections and other requirements.

Supporters said it's necessary to allow U.S. companies to compete and protect jobs. But a number of senior Democrats said the bill had too many loopholes as written, and the White House announced its opposition.

The GOP-controlled House has passed more than 50 bills to repeal or cancel out the health law, but supporters insisted that this time they were trying to improve the law commonly known as "Obamacare."