A failure by Congress to pass Obamacare subsidies means premiums are set to skyrocket for millions of Americans starting on Thursday.
The only thing currently holding back the premium spikes are efforts by a couple of states — including California, Colorado, Maryland, and New Mexico — to cover some of the costs.
“We can carry the cost for a little bit, but at some point, we will need Congress to act,” New Mexico state House Speaker Martinez told Politico. “No state can withstand to plug in every single budget hole that the Trump administration leaves behind.”
Even Republican-led states “are quietly taking regulatory action behind the scenes” because of mounting “public pressure,” Politico notes.
However, opponents of the subsidies have pushed back hard, arguing that the subsidies were always going to expire in 10 years as per the original Affordable Care Act, which was a partisan Democrat bill designed to force Americans into accepting socialized healthcare.
Trump isn’t raising your health insurance premiums.
Obamacare/ACA is.
The law started w/ subsidies expiring in 10 yrs.
ACA’s lie: premiums would drop over time.
Truth: left wanted to force US into socialized HC.
This is the moment healthcare in the US was destroyed. pic.twitter.com/z7XbWiv3YQ
— Kentucky Girl (@Notwokenow) December 20, 2025
Other critics have noted that the majority of the subsidies ultimately wind up in the hands of big insurance companies anyway.
Two-thirds of Obamacare subsidies don’t go to patients.
Most of the money goes to big insurance companies or is lost to deadweight inefficiencies.
The last thing Congress should do is pour hundreds of billions more into this failed system. pic.twitter.com/HFGueZTY6R
— Lance Gooden (@Lancegooden) December 23, 2025
Congressional Democrats, meanwhile, are hopeful that Congress might yet still pass a supposedly bipartisan three-year extension of the subsidies.
“I’ll also say that the glimmer of hope is if we’re searching for a bipartisan deal that can pass Congress, we don’t need to search any further than the three-year extension of the subsidies that’s going to pass the House of Representatives,” Sen. Brian Schatz told Fox News.
“We don’t need a negotiation any further. That bill can pass if it can provide relief to the taxpayers, and it can pass, then that’s our vehicle,” he added.
But this supposedly bipartisan plan is staunchly opposed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who’s argued that a three-year extension would be “a waste of $83 billion,” especially if it doesn’t include any reforms.
Republicans are interested in reforms such as “reinstalling an income cap, adding anti-fraud measures, and reaffirming language that would prevent taxpayer dollars from funding abortions,” according to Fox News.
“I mean, I think if nothing else, depending on if the House sends something over here, there would be a new vehicle available,” Thune said to Fox News.
“And if there is some bipartisan agreement on a plan, then you know, it’s possible that we could — obviously it’d have to be something that we think the House could pass, and the president would sign.” “But I’m not ruling anything out, I guess is what I’m saying,” he continued. “But you know, a three-year extension of a failed program that’s rife with fraud, waste, and abuse is not happening.”
Leftist complains that due to the Obamacare subsidies lapsing, her health insurance premium will skyrocket.
Her premium isn’t actually going up, she’s just responsible for the full amount.
If she doesn’t like that then blame Democrat politicians who created and support… pic.twitter.com/Yu7r4HM5xL
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) December 26, 2025
The problem, of course, is that Democrats refuse to budge even an iota.
“Let’s put it this way, Republicans are asking to meet with me, and I’m telling them, I’ll listen, you know, I made it clear what I think is the only practical approach, and I’m certainly not going to go along with selling junk insurance,” Sen. Ron Wyden explained.
The expiration of the subsidies is also expected to affect small business owners like Eric Frankenfield, who runs a chiropractic practice in New Jersey with his office manager wife, Lisa.
“The Point Pleasant, New Jersey, couple will no longer be able to afford their Obamacare plan after the enhanced premiums subsidies lapse at year’s end,” CNN notes. “They decided to forgo coverage after learning that their plan’s premium will skyrocket to $1,928 a month, up from $340 this year.”
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V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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