The NPR Politics Podcast The Health Insurance Fight Fueling The Government Shutdown
48 snips
Oct 21, 2025 
Selena Simmons-Duffin, an NPR health policy correspondent, joins the discussion on the federal government shutdown and its ties to health insurance subsidies. She explains how the expiration of these subsidies could lead to a dramatic rise in premiums and millions more uninsured. The conversation also delves into the political tug-of-war surrounding funding votes and the implications for family planning clinics reliant on Title X. Plus, there's a look at public awareness leading into the upcoming enrollment period. Tune in for insights that impact countless Americans!
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Subsidies Drove Enrollment Surge But Cost Money
- Enhanced ACA subsidies from 2021 lowered premiums and expanded enrollment to 24 million people.
- Making them permanent would cost the federal government an estimated $350 billion over a decade, complicating bipartisan deals.
How Subsidies Made Marketplace Coverage Work
- Enhanced subsidies increased federal payments so many people could afford marketplace plans.
- Enrollment rose to about 24 million and the uninsured rate fell to historic lows.
Timing Matters For Premiums And Rates
- Insurers submitted rate scenarios both with and without enhanced subsidies for this year.
- Extending subsidies at the last minute can preserve current consumer premiums, but changing their structure would create major disruption.
