ICYMI: New Survey Shows President Trump and Congressional Republicans to Blame if Health Care Costs Spike from Expiring ACA Tax Credits
(Washington, DC) – In case you missed it: A new Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) poll released today shows that spiking health care costs due to the expiration of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits (EPTCs) will impact how a majority of Marketplace enrollees plan to vote during the upcoming 2026 Midterms. Of the Marketplace enrollees who want to see the tax credits extended, 41% put the blame on President Trump and 35% blame Congressional Republicans.
Key Findings:
- “A large majority (84%) of enrollees say that Congress should extend the enhanced tax credits.”
- “A slight majority (54%) of enrollees who are registered to vote say if their health care expenses increase by $1,000 next year, it would have a major impact on whether they will vote in the 2026 elections and about half (52%) say it would have a major impact on which party’s candidate they will support.”
- “If the tax credits are allowed to expire, most enrollees who want to see the credits extended think either President Trump (41%) or Congressional Republicans (35%) deserve most of the blame.”
- “More than half of Marketplace enrollees (54%) expect that the cost of their health insurance coverage for next year will ‘increase a lot more than usual.’”
- “Nearly six in ten Marketplace enrollees say they would not be able to afford an annual increase of $300 in health care expenses without significantly disrupting their household finances.”
- “Many Marketplace enrollees are already struggling with health care costs. Six in ten adults (61%) who buy their health coverage on the ACA Marketplace say it is very or somewhat difficult to afford their deductibles and out-of-pocket costs for medical care and half (51%) say it is difficult to afford the cost of health insurance premiums each month.”
“In mere weeks, families across the nation are going to feel the pain of higher health care premiums if the ACA tax credits expire,” said Senator Shaheen. “The time is running out to take action to prevent disastrous price hikes that will render health care unaffordable for tens of millions of people. Americans will hold President Trump and Congressional Republicans accountable if they refuse to work with Democrats in good faith to find a path forward.”
Shaheen is leading efforts in Congress to make health care more affordable through the preservation and extension of the enhanced premium tax credits. Through negotiations to reopen the government, Shaheen secured a guaranteed vote by mid-December on legislation to address skyrocketing health care costs. Shaheen’s first bill introduction this Congress was her landmark Health Care Affordability Act—bicameral legislation to permanently extend the tax credits for Marketplace coverage that lower health care costs for millions of Americans.
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