For months now I've been shouting from the rooftops about the imminent expiration of the improved federal tax credits for ACA enrollees, repeatedly pointing out that those already paying full price are gonna get hit with average premium hikes of over 23% while most of the 92% of exchange enrollees who currently receive at least some federal assistance will see their net premiums skyrocket by up to 100%, 200% or even 300% or more.
Having helped cause this crisis in the first place both by refusing to push Congressional Republicans to extend the enhanced subsidies as well as by changing the Premium Adjustment Percentage Index formula (PAPI) to make the remaining subsidies even less generous, the Trump Regime has come up with what I'm sure they think of as a brilliant "solution" to the problem.
As I noted last month, Colorado's ~321,000 individual health insurance market enrollees are currently staring down the barrel of massive premium hikes less than four months from today:
Every state government is handling this situation differently. In Arkansas and New Hampshire, the strategy seems to be to either shout at or beg carriers to re-file with lower gross premium increases for 2026. New Mexico, California and New Jersey, in contrast, are all retooling their existing state-based supplemental subsidy programs to help cushion at least some of the impact.
Our survey of voters in the most competitive Congressional Districts shows Republicans have an opportunity to overcome a current generic ballot deficit and take the lead by extending the healthcare premium tax credits for those who purchase health insurance for themselves. Without Congressional action, the tax credit expires this year.
