"Congress failed to extend enhanced tax credits that have helped millions of Americans on Affordable Care Act plans cover their plan costs since 2021. Senate Republicans have promised a vote on the enhanced subsidies before the end of the year. But open enrollment for these plans is already underway and consumers are facing sky-high prices and little certainty about whether they'll get relief."
"She buys coverage on the ACA marketplace because her employer is too small to have health benefits. She says her current premiums are affordable for her at $275 a month but will go to $1,250 in 2026 without the tax credit. Going without insurance is really not an option for her. In October, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. So she's rushing to get in as much treatment as she can before the year ends, but she'll still need coverage for follow-up appointments next year."
The government shutdown ended without resolving a fight over health insurance. Congress failed to extend enhanced tax credits that reduced premiums on Affordable Care Act marketplace plans since 2021. Senate Republicans have promised a vote on the subsidies before year-end, but open enrollment is underway and consumers face high prices and uncertainty. Insurers raised premiums anticipating that without credits healthier people may not enroll in 2026, creating a sicker, costlier risk pool. KFF projects marketplace premiums to rise by an average of 26% next year, the largest increase since 2018. If Congress does not act before Dec. 15, some people may face unaffordable costs or lose coverage.
Read at www.npr.org
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