Updated December 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM ET
WASHINGTON – As the year comes to a close, millions of Americans are facing a potential increase in health insurance premiums due to Congress’s failure to extend Obamacare subsidies that are set to lapse.
Speaker Mike Johnson mentioned on December 16 that the situation became apparent when a last-minute attempt by House Republicans to initiate a vote on renewing the tax credits fell through. A group of moderate Republicans had been working on the matter over the weekend, but Johnson noted that no consensus was reached.
“Many of them were inclined to support this Obamacare subsidy that originated during the pandemic,” Johnson shared from Capitol Hill. “We attempted to create a way to ease the pressure, but it just didn’t pan out.”
The endorsement from senior Congressional leaders effectively sealed the fate of the Affordable Care Act subsidies, impacting around 22 million people. A report from KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research group, indicated that enrollees in the Obamacare marketplaces could see their premiums double once these subsidies expire at the year’s end.
In addition to broader concerns over federal spending, Johnson pointed out that recent bipartisan evaluations from the Government Accountability Office highlighted ongoing fraud risks associated with the program as a factor in Republican resistance to extending the credits.
A proposed bill on December 11 that aimed to maintain the coronavirus-era subsidies for an additional three years did not advance in the Senate. Despite support from all Democrats and four Republicans, it did not meet the 60-vote requirement needed to pass.
The House plans to address another Republican-sponsored bill this week focused on more general healthcare reform. This legislation would enable businesses to collaborate and purchase health insurance collectively while pledging funding for 2027 to help lessen out-of-pocket expenses.
“We hope the Democrats will collaborate with us,” Johnson remarked regarding this new bill, even though it seems unlikely to progress in Congress without resolving the issue surrounding the Obamacare subsidies.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer took issue with Johnson’s statement after the news of the House’s decision not to vote on the healthcare subsidies was shared.
“Mr. Johnson said, ‘This shouldn’t happen,'” Schumer added. “Well, tell that to the American families who are facing an additional $500 to $1,000 monthly in medical expenses.”
