Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday that he will not allow a vote to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the month, solidifying his party’s decision to let tens of millions of Americans face massive premium increases in the new year.
Speaking to reporters, Johnson acknowledged that some swing-district Republicans pushed him for a vote on the ACA subsidies as people across the country face sticker shock, with premiums more than doubling on average.
The ACA open enrollment period ended Monday for those with coverage starting start January 1, 2026.
“With no extension of enhanced tax credits, ACA enrollees are going to start the year with premium payments increasing by an average of 114%, or over $1,000 a year per person,” Larry Levitt, KFF’s executive vice president for health policy, noted Tuesday. “Some will find a way to pay it, some have switched to higher deductibles, and some have dropped coverage.”
What did the republicans have to do for their part of the agreement?
They just had to hold the vote. Which is why it was a terrible capitulation by the Democrats that cost them any remaining goodwill they might have had over something that everyone knew was going to be meaningless.
(Sorry mistyped) Yes they did have to hold the vote on the ACA subsidies. They also had to support three other votes. Remember which those were?