Health care costs could soon skyrocket for millions of Americans if Congress doesn’t act fast.
As House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., pointed out on a recent broadcast, the Affordable Care Act tax credits are on the chopping block, and without them, working families could be crushed under crippling premiums, Breitbart reported.
This discussion unfolded during Jeffries’ appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” last Friday, where he sounded the alarm on a looming deadline. The ACA tax credits, vital for keeping health insurance within reach for many, are set to vanish on Dec. 31, 2025. If that happens, brace for premium hikes that could hit $1,000 or even $2,000 a month.
Jeffries didn’t mince words about who gets hurt if these subsidies disappear. We’re talking about everyday folks—working-class and middle-class Americans—who could find themselves unable to afford basic medical care.
“Well, the Affordable Care Act tax credits are going to expire on December 31, and if that happens, tens of millions of hardworking American taxpayers are going to experience dramatically increased premiums, co-pays, and deductibles,” Jeffries said.
“In some cases, premiums for health insurance will increase by 1,000 or $2,000 per month,” he continued, painting a grim picture for families already stretched thin. Let’s be real—how many can absorb that kind of hit without sacrificing groceries or rent? It’s not just numbers; it’s a gut punch to the American dream of stability.
Now, here’s where the political divide gets frustratingly clear. In the Senate, there’s at least a flicker of hope, with Leader Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., pledging a vote on extending the ACA credits by mid-December. Discussions are underway, which is more than can be said for the House.
Over in the House, Jeffries noted a complete lack of urgency among Republican colleagues to tackle this ticking time bomb. Zero interest, as he put it—a stance that leaves millions hanging in the balance. Is this really the hill to die on when families are begging for relief?
House Democrats, in response, have rolled out a discharge petition to force a vote on a straightforward three-year extension of the credits. Their goal? To give working Americans some certainty about health care costs, rather than leaving them at the mercy of political gridlock.
Jeffries didn’t shy away from a subtle jab at House priorities, either. He contrasted the lack of action on ACA credits with past Republican efforts to secure benefits for wealthy donors. It’s a fair question—why the rush for billionaires but crickets for the average Joe?
“Over in the Senate, it’s my understanding that Leader Sen. John Thune (R-SD) has recommitted to a vote on an Affordable Care Act extension no later than the second week in December, so there are ongoing discussions that are taking place in the Senate,” Jeffries explained.
“Meanwhile, unfortunately, in the House, my Republican colleagues have shown zero interest in doing anything related to the ticking time bomb of the Affordable Care Act tax credits expiring,” he added. If that doesn’t light a fire under someone, what will? It’s hard to ignore the optics of ignoring a crisis this big.
Let’s cut through the noise: without these tax credits, health care becomes a luxury, not a right, for tens of millions. Jeffries warned that folks won’t even be able to see a doctor when they need to—a chilling thought in a nation as prosperous as ours. Are we really okay with a system where only the well-off get care?
The divide between Senate progress and House inaction only deepens the frustration for those watching from the sidelines. While one chamber debates solutions, the other seems content to let the clock run out. It’s a classic case of Washington dysfunction, and everyday Americans are the ones who pay the price.
So, here we stand, with a deadline looming and millions of lives on the line. Will Congress step up, or will partisan posturing win the day? One thing’s certain—if action isn’t taken, the cost of inaction will be measured in dollars and despair for far too many hardworking families.
