GOP Fights Dem ‘Quick Fix’ As ACA Premiums Soar for Millions

Paul Riverbank, 1/7/2026As ACA subsidies expire, millions face soaring premiums amid heated bipartisan debates in Congress.

Bonner’s story is heavy with specifics, but he isn’t the only one fielding such an unwelcome shock. Across the United States, insurance premiums for people in similar circumstances have ballooned, almost overnight, as federal assistance for Affordable Care Act plans ceased with the flip of a calendar page. The extended pandemic-related subsidies, a point of bitter contest in last October’s government shutdown, finally lapsed. Democrats fought to extend them. Many Republicans believed it was time for these temporary measures to sunset. When the dust from the shutdown settled, the subsidies were gone.

Now, the effects are rippling outwards. Numbers from the Urban Institute are making the rounds in Washington: upwards of 4.8 million might drop their health coverage this year, especially those in fragile health or on fixed incomes. “This is just not affordable,” Bonner said, a phrase echoing in Congressional hearing rooms and living rooms alike.

Congress has noticed the outcry, at least in part. Several House committees—Energy & Commerce, Ways & Means among them—have begun calling insurance company executives to explain themselves in public. There’s an urgency here: a bipartisan group of lawmakers just managed to get a bill up for debate that would revive the ACA subsidies for three more years, an effort made possible by a handful of moderate Republicans who broke ranks. Yet, even as the House readies itself for that battle, a similar fight in the Senate still looks uphill.

Peeling back the rhetoric, the disagreement is relatively simple—and far from new. Most Republicans say these subsidies were always meant to be a stopgap during an extraordinary crisis. They argue, often bluntly, that only a sliver of the population—about 7%—benefited and that underlying healthcare costs continue to spiral for more Americans each year. The GOP-controlled House has offered its alternative: a plan designed to let small businesses and self-employed workers pool their purchasing power, with some new help on out-of-pocket costs scheduled for 2027, which they claim might shave 12% off premium costs.

Meanwhile, Texas Democrat Al Green isn’t mincing words about the legislative risks. “We must act,” Green declared—his voice one of several, from both sides, sounding the alarm.

In the Senate, the process is predictably tangled. Senators from opposing parties have been working in fits and starts on a deal to restore larger ACA subsidies, at least temporarily. Their emerging plan would offer broader choices—letting people use government assistance to cover premiums or to fund health savings accounts, and require insurers to better inform enrollees about what they’re signing up for. Longer open enrollment periods are also on the table.

But, as often happens, an old debate has resurfaced: abortion coverage. Republicans are insisting on clear barriers preventing any taxpayer dollars from subsidizing plans that pay for abortion services, a line that even some moderates hesitate to blur. Senator Moreno, trying to balance tradition with present needs, summed up the challenge: “We’re trying to respect an established tradition…”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune sounded cautiously optimistic that a path exists, if enough Republicans can be convinced to sign on. Adding a bit more unpredictability, former president Donald Trump recently urged House Republicans to "own health care" and to consider compromise on abortion restrictions—not a message they’re all comfortable hearing.

What’s unmistakable is what’s at stake. For people like Bonner, these decisions aren’t abstract policy; they’re a choice between keeping health insurance and holding on to daily necessities. For now, as Congress tries to stitch together a way forward amid disagreement and delay, millions watch closely, with little else to guarantee their peace of mind.

On a muggy morning in Houston, James Bonner sat down with his monthly bills and was met with a figure he hadn’t seen before: $135, his new health insurance premium. This time last year, that number was just $9. The jump wasn’t just a surprise; it was a wall he wasn’t sure he could climb. Bonner, who needs a double lung transplant to go on living, has been scraping by on Social Security. Now, his future — and that of millions more — feels remarkably uncertain.Bonner’s story is heavy with specifics, but he isn’t the only one fielding such an unwelcome shock. Across the United States, insurance premiums for people in similar circumstances have ballooned, almost overnight, as federal assistance for Affordable Care Act plans ceased with the flip of a calendar page. The extended pandemic-related subsidies, a point of bitter contest in last October’s government shutdown, finally lapsed. Democrats fought to extend them. Many Republicans believed it was time for these temporary measures to sunset. When the dust from the shutdown settled, the subsidies were gone.Now, the effects are rippling outwards. Numbers from the Urban Institute are making the rounds in Washington: upwards of 4.8 million might drop their health coverage this year, especially those in fragile health or on fixed incomes. “This is just not affordable,” Bonner said, a phrase echoing in Congressional hearing rooms and living rooms alike.Congress has noticed the outcry, at least in part. Several House committees—Energy & Commerce, Ways & Means among them—have begun calling insurance company executives to explain themselves in public. There’s an urgency here: a bipartisan group of lawmakers just managed to get a bill up for debate that would revive the ACA subsidies for three more years, an effort made possible by a handful of moderate Republicans who broke ranks. Yet, even as the House readies itself for that battle, a similar fight in the Senate still looks uphill.Peeling back the rhetoric, the disagreement is relatively simple—and far from new. Most Republicans say these subsidies were always meant to be a stopgap during an extraordinary crisis. They argue, often bluntly, that only a sliver of the population—about 7%—benefited and that underlying healthcare costs continue to spiral for more Americans each year. The GOP-controlled House has offered its alternative: a plan designed to let small businesses and self-employed workers pool their purchasing power, with some new help on out-of-pocket costs scheduled for 2027, which they claim might shave 12% off premium costs.Meanwhile, Texas Democrat Al Green isn’t mincing words about the legislative risks. “We must act,” Green declared—his voice one of several, from both sides, sounding the alarm.In the Senate, the process is predictably tangled. Senators from opposing parties have been working in fits and starts on a deal to restore larger ACA subsidies, at least temporarily. Their emerging plan would offer broader choices—letting people use government assistance to cover premiums or to fund health savings accounts, and require insurers to better inform enrollees about what they’re signing up for. Longer open enrollment periods are also on the table.But, as often happens, an old debate has resurfaced: abortion coverage. Republicans are insisting on clear barriers preventing any taxpayer dollars from subsidizing plans that pay for abortion services, a line that even some moderates hesitate to blur. Senator Moreno, trying to balance tradition with present needs, summed up the challenge: “We’re trying to respect an established tradition…”Senate Majority Leader John Thune sounded cautiously optimistic that a path exists, if enough Republicans can be convinced to sign on. Adding a bit more unpredictability, former president Donald Trump recently urged House Republicans to "own health care" and to consider compromise on abortion restrictions—not a message they’re all comfortable hearing.What’s unmistakable is what’s at stake. For people like Bonner, these decisions aren’t abstract policy; they’re a choice between keeping health insurance and holding on to daily necessities. For now, as Congress tries to stitch together a way forward amid disagreement and delay, millions watch closely, with little else to guarantee their peace of mind.