Senate rejects extension of health care subsidies as costs are set to rise for millions of Americans

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 1:18 PM EST, December 11, 2025


WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Thursday rejected legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, essentially guaranteeing that millions of Americans will see a steep rise in costs at the beginning of the year.

Senators rejected a Democratic bill to extend the subsidies for three years and a Republican alternative that would have created new health savings accounts — an unceremonious end to a monthslong effort by Democrats to prevent the COVID-19-era subsidies from expiring on Jan. 1.

Ahead of the votes, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York warned Republicans that if they did not vote to extend the tax credits, “there won’t be another chance to act,” before premiums rise for many people who buy insurance off the ACA marketplaces. “Let’s avert a disaster,” Schumer said. “The American people are watching.”

Republicans have argued that Affordable Care Act plans are too expensive and need to be overhauled. The health savings accounts in the GOP bill would give money directly to consumers instead of to insurance companies, an idea that has been echoed by President Donald Trump.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/health-care-vote-affordable-care-act-obamacare-6ffc1ea9f878c6b3da995589ef8a012c

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REFERENCE - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143580679

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. The odds of Dems retaking the senate just went up considerably. Nt

[progressoid]

19. God, I hope so,

[Katinfl]

25. If people remember who fought for their healthcare.

I have been disappointed by the electorate many times and I hope this is not one of them. They need to be reminded every day from now on.

[PatSeg]

29. This is true

The public's memory is very short, which is evidenced by the reelection of Donald Trump. How quickly people forgot the pandemic, lockdowns, and runaway inflation. Things started to get so much better under Biden, but no one remembers that either.

For democracy to work, we need a better informed, educated electorate.

[OMGWTF]

58. It was a mere five years ago that we were using refrigerator trucks as morgues

and there was no toilet paper. T💩p is directly responsible for at least half of the over one million Americans who died from Covid-19.

[PatSeg]

62. And for so many people,

it might as well have happened 100 years ago. I figure that much of the nightmare we are witnessing today such as the ICE thugs brutally detaining and attacking people will also be forgotten down the road. The American people have the attention span of a tick.

[ChicagoTeamster]

32. Trump and Republicans put their names all over projects funded by Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and Chips Act

Even though they all voted against it. And Trump's DOGE has already cancelled projects started with funding from those acts. MAGA republicans are willfully ignorant and full of disinformation. They'd rather vote for a white man who constantly belittles them and tries to rip them off then vote for a black man who tried to give them healthcare.

[wolfie001]

35. So many stupid voters

Many are obese and/or have a myriad of health problems. Makes no sense to vote for ANY rePUKE.

[slightlv]

52. Are they ALL so uncurious that none of them

have any idea what we real people are going thru? Are they TRYING to bring down the republicans and maga this year? Do they ALL think trump is a genius?! (LOL) /snark

What is wrong with these people? Do they never go to a store, or buy anything? Much more, and the cheapest thing I'll be able to do is check out of life, itself. Of course, that's probably what they want for all of us.

[NewHendoLib]

2. Fuck All Repubs.

[hlthe2b]

3. R's know the consequences (to themselves and American people/increase in uninsured)... So, they really do not care...

Essentially, they have given up on the Midterm elections? Or so convinced Trump et al will find a way to corrupt the process into a win?

[Irish_Dem]

14. They must know the fix is in. The elections will be rigged.

They don't care about voters any more.

[MontanaMama]

34. I believe this is the case.

The AI bros will make sure of it. The majority of the house and senate have no idea what AI is capable of and have no idea even how to stop it.

[Irish_Dem]

40. Probably the reason Trump turned the entire federal data base over to Musk.

[wolfie001]

36. I believe Texas has been throwing away Democratic ballots for about 10 years now

Just a hunch but it would make sense with that nasty mf'ing governor.

[returnee]

51. Given their apparent lack of concern...

…I would agree. It seems consistent with TSF’s attitude in 2024. I’m convinced they’ve cracked the code on digital rigging though I cannot prove it. Of course, this is added to their election interference (gerrymandering, registration and vote site problems, tossing out votes for specious reasons, etc).

[Bettie]

56. I think it's B

they think that they don't have to worry about elections anymore.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Let's give people money to buy the thing they can't afford with the money we give them.

Does it make any sense at all?

[Nigrum Cattus]

11. it's all a part of P2025

https://www.medishare.com/

[ms liberty]

33. This.

[wolfie001]

37. $100,000 heart surgery? How bout we front you $2,000? Just this one year

[orangecrush]

5. Wasn't there a shutdown over this?

What happened?

[ruet]

7. They Got A Vote.

That's what we caved on. ...the promise of a vote.

[orangecrush]

10. Oh

Thanks.

[aeromanKC]

27. A vote to get them on tne record that they hate their constituents.

People are beginning to realize the GOP doesn't care about them. (See recent elections)

[wolfie001]

38. 8 Democratic senators helped get to the 60-vote margin

[onenote]

50. My question: do you think the repubs would ever had yielded on this issue?

Let's imagine that the shutdown hadn't ended when it did. When would the repubs have caved on this issue, given that they seem willing to accept the consequences of the increased costs?

And, under those circumstances, at what point would the collapse of air traffic, the end of SNAP payments, and the inability of federal workers to pay their rent or mortgages or feed their families bounce back against Democrats unwarranted as such a reaction would be?

[wolfie001]

61. People were hurting and I understand why they voted the way they did

Just like the compromise with Obamacare. It's hard to negotiate with christo-fascist terrorists.

[TBF]

6. Ah, the promised vote

I'm so surprised by the outcome. /sarcasm

[ruet]

9. How Could Anyone Have Possibly Predicted This Outcome.

[durablend]

21. No. one. could. have.

/s

[orangecrush]

12. Astonished here!

[Irish_Dem]

16. A real shock isn't it?

GOP Nazis killing more Americans.

[AZJonnie]

8. ACA aside, the UHC PPO plan the place I work for offers has spiked almost 19% next year vs this year

Which is the largest YOY increase I think we've ever had. And according to our owner, his broker told him ours is lower % increase vs. nearly all his other clients (though I suppose the broker may be saying that to everyone).

If the companies that offer ins. through the marketplace are following suit with UHC, it's not *just* going to be the sticker shock of reduced tax credits, there's going to be unusually large premium increases hitting at the same time. A lot of people are going to be really pissed off when next year hits, so it's good that Democrats have carved out a strong position against losing those subsidies, going so far as to shut down the government over it.

Dem leadership needs to making serious hay about this rejection of the extension over the next few days, letting everyone they can possibly reach know that THIS WAS REPUBLICANS taking all this money out of your pocket and/or forcing you off of insurance altogether

[DallasNE]

13. The Headline Is Wildly Misleading

I know the rules don't allow alteration of headlines, but "set to rise" should read "set to explode". For millions, the increase will be in the neighborhood of $12,000 per year, and unaffordable, so they will be forced to drop insurance.

Yes, costs are a problem, but why not emulate what the rest of the Western countries do and set up a single-payer plan? It would save billions.

[durablend]

22. Can't do that

That would be communism, marxism, socialism and a whole bunch of other -isms. People will be marrying and eating their pets.

[wolfie001]

39. For some reason this came to mind. Strange sick times. I need a laugh.

[img][/img]

[Wiz Imp]

55. It's true that some people will see premiums go up by thousands of dollars.

But the average enrollee's premium payments will go up slightly more than double (around 114% increase), jumping from about $888 annually to roughly $1,904. Now, even that increase of about $1000 will still be unafordable for many or most but it's not anywhere remotely close to a $12,000/year increase.

https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/aca-marketplace-premium-payments-would-more-than-double-on-average-next-year-if-enhanced-premium-tax-credits-expire/

[dweller]

15. Vote counts

The vote on advancing the GOP bill was 51 to 48, with one Republican crossing the aisle to oppose it. The final tally on the Democratic bill was also 51 to 48, with four Republicans joining Democrats to support an extension.



✌🏻

[cer7711]

17. Mediicare for all is the solution.

The question is: When the Dems retake the Senate and House will they fight for this?

Or will the donor-class mouthpieces argue again that "the time just isn't right" or "this is a bridge too far", etc., etc.; ad nauseum, ad infinitum.

PS. The vote today was a foregone conclusion. Bastards all.

[TBF]

28. Yes - some kind of single payer & Congress would have it too

Right now, they are so insulated & answer only to their rich donors. They care 0% about what ordinary people think.

[MichMan]

66. They couldn't get enough Dem votes to make them permanent in the first place.

Instead they made it temporary, knowing it was going to expire this year.

[AZ8theist]

18. Dotard is so fucking stupid......

He says the current system enriches insurance companies.
He wants to give money directly to people so they can buy insurance themselves....

........from......................................insurance companies????

[ananda]

20. Well, they can't blame Dems for it!

I'm glad at least that they are shown
as the big villains in all this.

[Borogove]

23. Sadomasochists, that's all they are. Every fucking one of them.

[BidenRocks]

24. Until Dems can fix this

Live healthier.
Cut the expensive fast food and drinks!

If you do get sick, as Alan Grayson stated, Die Quickly.

Consider it getting in shape for the coming battles.

[CousinIT]

26. SENATE REPUBLICANS reject extension of health care subsidies, not "Senate" - just the REPUBLICANS. n/t

[not fooled]

31. Funny how that works

almost always to the pukes' advantage.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

30. Only buy one doll for your kids this Christmas - Donny Dipshit

[markie]

41. "health savings accounts"

would be hilarious... if it weren't so pathetically stupid

[IronLionZion]

54. The for profit companies who manage those accounts love it

because they get to take money in fees without paying anything in interest like a normal savings account.

People often decide to delay screenings, checkups, and preventive care if they have to pay for it.

[jeffreyi]

42. Wellll....

Shotgun blast, meet foot. Whole leg and the other one too, for that matter. The ACA was a repub/heritage foundation brainchild from the get-go. Now let's seriously talk about and implement single payer/Medicare for all.

[BComplex]

43. The media needs to start reporting this accurately: "the REPUBLICAN-led senate

rejected...."

Republican needs to start being shown as the dirty word it is.

[SamuelTheThird]

49. From what I can tell, it's not getting all that much coverage

Much coverage relative to its large impact.

[Bobstandard]

44. Every Democratic Senator and Congressman need to shout this from the rooftops!

Hold a press conference, call talk shows, send out emails blasts calling Republicans who voted against this killers. Call them out by name. Use extremely harsh language so that the media can’t ignore it. If the coverage starts out “Democtic Senator Whoever used uncharacteristically harsh language today…”, that’s fine. If it’s “Republicans are calling statements by Democratic Congressman Whatshisface dangerous and reckless, “ even better. Don’t wait. Use this chance to beat Republicans over the head with their vote, then keep it up.

[Deminpenn]

45. Rs are on a speeding bus

driven by Trump heading right for the edge of the cliff.

Please proceed.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

48. Ha, we are ALL on that speeding bus, except for ...

... the Trump family, other billionaires, and Putin. They are on the bleachers out in the sun, watching on highway 61.

[AllyCat]

46. Republicans don't care about humans.

At all. They do things that endanger our economy, our health, and our safety.

[SpankMe]

47. Dems must cleverly capitalize on this

When I got laid off from a job in 2020, I went to look for health insurance for my family and it would have been $2000/month for the same coverage I had at my job (which was good insurance).

Then, I went to an Obamacare exchange and found a silver plan for $320/ month. That was for a family of four. I would have had to forgo health insurance entirely if it weren't for ACA subsidies.

It's hard to say if Republicans just have no empathy whatsoever, if they're just plain evil, or if they really think ACA subsidies are a waste of taxpayer money.

Dems need to start gathering stories of people affected by this and start making commercials and social media shorts. As the 2026 mid-terms approach, they have to increase the intensity of this campaign in areas where Repubs are vulnerable. Don't waste money in Texas or Utah. But, find someplace where the R - be they US senators or congressional reps - is up by only a few points.

I feel this issue alone can get us over the top in districts and states whose R candidates are leading by only a few points, or are toss-ups.

[Turbineguy]

53. The hill they'll die on.

[LudwigPastorius]

57. I guess I better develop a taste for ramen noodles and Little Friskies.

...seeing as how that's the only food I'm going to be able to afford from now on.

[BootinUp]

59. We need a new reality tv show called: America FAFO. Nt

[ashredux]

60. I don't think the GOP gets it. This is the "2 x 4" that broke the camels back.

Even more MAGA will turn against Trump on this one

[2na fisherman]

63. Bankrupt Hospitals

With more people not getting the preventive medical care they need, this will yield spikes in ER visits by the uninsured with serious illnesses. And hospitals are required to render service for these kinds of cases if life threatening. So they will bear the higher costs of such treatments and not get reimbursed which will make many hospitals close their doors. We will have large areas (red states?) of the country without medical services. So bring out those refrigerated trucks to store the many bodies. And just imagine if we have another pandemic in addition to that.

[Javaman]

64. the leopards are feasting tonight. nt

[BigmanPigman]

65. Mine is $194 now, in one month $1,200!!!!!

That's 33% of my income after taxes. Do other Americans know how expensive it is to live in Southern CA? Do the math. As a teacher for over 15 years I saved every fucking penny and now I will lose ALL of my savings due to tRump.

I plan on taking him down with me, I just want to see him suffer as I have.

Many Americans will die but first they will be bankrupted without insur before the midterms. This is a fact. I will not make it another 1 1/2 years. My number is up thanks to this greedy, sadistic psychopath and his loser constituents.

I used to be a proud patriot. Now I hate this fucking country and 50% of the assholes who are too stupid to live. I am also stupid...I should have died 5 years ago when I had the chance. My fault entirely. I could have avoided all of this shit. Lesson learned! Won't make that mistake again.

[jfz9580m]

72. I am sorry to hear that BigmanPigman

Something is seriously wrong with everything..
We are connected, the information is out there and it’s most people against a few parasitic elite.
How is this working?

[Bayard]

67. The ACA is too expensive....

As opposed to your premiums quadrupling.


This will be a flashing neon light for next years elections.

[Jacson6]

68. Tax Cut for the 1%. No health care for you. n/t

[cstanleytech]

69. Giving the money directly to the people is stupid as shit.

[PortTack]

70. The orange anus is wallowing in his pig pen! ...me, I am the one who destroyed the black man's highest achievement

There are lots other fucking racists out there that feel the same way!

[Figarosmom]

71. I think next month they will be very, very sorry

They didn't do it.

Trumps plan would pay for 1 or 2 doctors checkups and some blood work maybe. Then what?

I think with this even MAGAs know that $1500. Isn't going to do diddly for their health care.