Slate Daily Feed What Next: Healthcare Is Expensive. It’s About To Get Worse.
Dec 9, 2025
Julie Rovner, Chief Washington correspondent for KFF Health News and host of What the Health, dives into the impending crisis of expiring ACA tax credits that could spike health insurance premiums for millions. She discusses how these credits were created and the consequences of their lapse. The conversation also covers the political dynamics of the Senate vote, the complexity of GOP support for ACA, and how Biden-era changes made healthcare more affordable. Julie highlights the risks of zero-premium plans and the larger implications for voters.
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Real People Face Immediate Premium Shock
- Listeners reported massive premium spikes after subsidies expired, e.g., one went from $450 to $970 monthly.
- A therapist said subsidies' lapse may force closing a private practice and reduce patient access.
Expanded Subsidies Doubled Enrollment
- The COVID-era expansion of ACA tax credits doubled marketplace enrollment from ~11M to ~22M.
- Larger subsidies made many plans effectively free and greatly increased affordability and uptake.
Enrollment Deadline Compresses Congress's Timeline
- Open enrollment deadlines mean quick action: to start Jan 1st, enrollment must be done by Dec 15th.
- That timeline compresses Congress's window to avert cancellations or rate shocks.