Democrats Push For a Last-Minute Vote to Extend ACA Credits

On Wednesday, December 17, the House passed a conservative healthcare bill that would not address expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, Benjamin Guggenheim wrote for Politico. The bill passed with a 216-211 vote.

“Ultimately, the bill is dead on arrival in the Senate and will do little to quell a major intraparty split over the future of the subsidies, with many House Republicans vowing to continue to negotiate a compromise in 2026,” Guggenheim reported.

The next day, on Thursday, House Democrats urged GOP leaders to hold an urgent vote to extend the credits, as lawmakers are set to leave for the holidays without renewing the expiring subsidies, Kaia Hubbard reported for CBS News. “But even with the success of the petition, a vote on extending the ACA tax credits isn't expected until the chamber reconvenes in January, since seven legislative days must elapse before a discharge motion can be brought to the floor.” However, Speaker Mike Johnson has the authority to move the process forward, Hubbard noted.

Previously, on Wednesday, Republicans blocked an attempt by Democrats, with support from four Republicans, to preserve the ACA subsidy.

“Congress’ decision to let the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits expire represents a significant missed opportunity to protect patients,” California Medical Association (CMA) President René Bravo said in a statement. “Nearly 1.7 million Californians who rely on Covered California will see sharp premium increases, forcing impossible choices between healthcare or basic needs like housing or food. An estimated 400,000 people are expected to be priced out of coverage altogether — a devastating and unacceptable rollback in access to care.”

New Mexico plans to provide additional state healthcare subsidies, Griffin Rushton reported for KOB4. “The state created a specific trust fund in 2021 to help lower costs for New Mexicans enrolled in Affordable Care Act coverage plans,” Rushton explained. “HCA (Health Care Affordability Fund) leaders said there’s more than $100 million in the fund right now. They plan on using that money in 2026 to help keep health insurance affordable for the estimated 68,000 New Mexicans currently relying on those federal tax credits.”