A new poll finds that Republican candidates could be hurt in the mid-term elections if they don’t extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. These subsidies make state health insurance exchange premiums affordable for people with lower incomes, enabling them to have health insurance. Without them, Reed Abelson reports for The New York Times, millions of people will become uninsured.
Most people polled say that they will blame either Congressional Republicans or President Trump if their health insurance premiums rise significantly in 2026. They also said that if their health insurance premiums rise in 2026, it will affect how and whether they vote in the mid-terms.
Congress is scheduled to vote shortly on whether to extend the subsidies. President Trump had earlier opposed extending them. He was reconsidering that position but ultimately has decided to oppose them. He supports giving people, who otherwise would qualify for a subsidy, a small amount of money for the purpose of buying inadequate health insurance, indirectly supporting health insurers and impeding people’s ability to get needed care.
Without these Affordable Care Act subsidies, premiums will double or more for many people who get their health care coverage through the state health insurance exchanges. Right now, annual premiums average around $890. They will rise to $1,900 or so.
KFF conducted the poll and found serious concerns among participants about health care affordability. In addition to premiums, people must pay deductibles and copays, both of which can be very high. More than half of the people polled, six in ten, said that an annual premium increase of $300 would take a serious toll on their finances.
It’s more than likely that millions of people will become uninsured if Congress does not extend the subsidies. People with health insurance through the state health insurance exchanges, who currently do not have to pay any premium, would face $600 in annual premiums next year.
Of note, Republicans said they would blame Democrats if the subsidies are not continued, even though all Democrats are likely to vote for the subsidies. If the subsidies are not extended, it will be because not enough Republicans supported them and/or President Trump did not supporting them. Democrats and Independents would blame Republicans.
This all said, about one in two people polled said they “had little or no faith in congressional Democrats.” About two in three said they had little or no faith in congressional Republicans or President Trump. All told, Americans do not appear to believe members of Congress will reduce health care costs or health insurance costs.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Republicans could hurt Medicare, Medicaid and ACA without ACA repeal
- Republican bill would increase medical debt significantly
- Debt among older Americans increasing in good part because of health care costs
- Health care costs are devouring Social Security’s cost of living increase
- 2026: Medicare Part D prescription drug costs and benefits
