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As of Dec. 17, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace subsidies have not been extended.

Despite weeks long debate and several proposed bills, Congress has failed to pass legislation that would extend subsidies for the ÀÖ²©´«Ã½Marketplace. These subsidies have been key to making coverage affordable and a lapse in these subsidies is expected to lead to about .

Background

As a COVID-era initiative, Congress expanded ÀÖ²©´«Ã½subsidies, lowering the cost of ÀÖ²©´«Ã½Marketplace plans. This led marketplace enrollment to surge from . However, these subsidies are scheduled to end Dec. 31, 2025.

Democrats have been calling for an extension of these subsidies, arguing that they have improved affordability and accessibility for millions. These subsidies were a central issue in this year’s 43-day government shutdown. As part of a deal to secure the Senate Democratic votes needed to reopen the government, Senate Republicans agreed to hold a vote on the ÀÖ²©´«Ã½subsidies.  However, Senators voted largely along party lines and the Democratic led bill failed 51-48.

There have been a few additional last-minute attempts to control health care costs:

• Republicans in the House and Senate have proposed alternative health care bills—neither of which would extend ÀÖ²©´«Ã½subsidies,
• A bipartisan group in the House has been advocating for a compromise bill that would extend ÀÖ²©´«Ã½subsidies for two years with some new restrictions, and
• A few House Republicans have also joined House Democrats’ discharge petition to extend ÀÖ²©´«Ã½subsidies by three years. This will force a floor vote (likely in January).

As of Dec. 17, none of these bills have enough bipartisan support to become law. We will continue to follow these proposals and keep advocates updated about this rapidly changing landscape.

What Does This Mean for You?

Experts believe that on average , though exact costs may vary by income, location and age. This sharp price increase is expected to:

• Lead many to forego coverage. Four million people are expected to drop coverage. In particular, these new costs may dissuade younger healthier people from buying ÀÖ²©´«Ã½coverage, leading to a smaller and more expensive insurance pool. This in turn may cause insurers to increase costs even further.
• Lead to opting for less comprehensive plans, which leave enrollees vulnerable to high out-of-pocket costs.

This means counselors who buy insurance through the ÀÖ²©´«Ã½Marketplace will likely face higher costs. Additionally, the overall spike in health care costs may lead clients to try to forgo or ration care.

We know that mental health care saves lives, so we’ll continue advocating every day for greater access to this essential live-saving care. Please join our campaigns to increase healthcare accessibility:

You can also contact your congressional representative to share your thoughts on Affordable Care Act subsidies.

If you have any questions or would like to get further involved in our advocacy efforts, email us at advocacy@counseling.org