Affordable Care Act Subsidies Have Expired

Subsidies that were offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expired at the end of 2025, meaning some Americans may have to pay higher health insurance premiums. The ACA subsidies were designed to help lower or eliminate the out-of-pocket cost of monthly premiums for people who purchase health insurance coverage through a health insurance marketplace. The expired subsidies were first given to enrollees of the ACA, also known as Obamacare, in 2021 as a temporary measure to help Americans get through the COVID-19 pandemic. Democrats in power at the time extended them, moving the expiration date to the start of 2026. They became a contentious issue in Congress during the government shutdown that lasted from October to mid-November of last year, although no deal was hashed out when the government was reopened. However, members of Congress are likely to make them a focus again as funding for the government is set to lapse later this month....