Open enrollment for health plans under the Affordable Care Act began on November 1st, but there is uncertainty surrounding the premiums that the estimated 24 million Americans who purchase from the ACA marketplaces will have to pay starting in January. If Congress does not extend the tax credits added to the program in 2021, most consumers may be required to contribute significantly more out-of-pocket, potentially double or triple what they are currently paying by 2025.
The politics surrounding this year’s ACA battle are complex. Democrats are leveraging a potential government shutdown to push Republicans into negotiations over the expiring ACA tax credits. However, many of the individuals who will face substantially higher premiums in 2026 reside in GOP-dominated states like Texas and Florida and belong to professions that typically lean towards the Republican party, such as farmers, ranchers, and small business owners.
In a special episode of “What the Health?” from KFF Health News and WAMU, host Julie Rovner speaks with Cynthia Cox, a vice president at KFF and the director of its Program on the ACA. Cox delves into the state of the nation’s health system before the passage of the health law, its impact on reducing health spending and improving insurance coverage, and the unique political dynamics at play in the current debate.
Listeners can find all podcasts on the KFF Health News website and subscribe to “What the Health? From KFF Health News” on various platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app, YouTube, and Pocket Casts. The episode features Cynthia Cox as the guest and credits Taylor Cook as the audio producer and Stephanie Stapleton as the editor.
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