A ticking clock: How states are preparing for a last-minute Obamacare deal

"The extra federal subsidies put in place in 2021 that made coverage more affordable for millions of people will expire at the end of this year unless a gridlocked and idle Congress acts. With Democratic and Republican lawmakers at an impasse, the federal government shut down on Oct. 1, spurred by the need for an estimated $353 billion over a decade to continue providing enhanced ACA subsidies for roughly 24 million people."

"One family in Virginia Beach, Virginia, just found out their health plan's deductible will jump from $800 to $20,000 next year. About 200 miles north, in Maryland, another household learned they'll pay $500 more monthly to insure their brood in 2026. And thousands of people in Idaho were greeted with insurance rates that'll cost, on average, $100 more every month."

Many households face dramatic increases in 2026 insurance costs, including deductible jumps from $800 to $20,000 and monthly premiums rising by hundreds of dollars. Federal ACA subsidies enacted in 2021 are set to expire at year-end unless Congress provides an estimated $353 billion over a decade to extend enhanced assistance for roughly 24 million people. Political impasse and a federal government shutdown have stalled negotiations, with Republicans demanding that Democrats first vote to reopen the government. Marketplace plan prices and availability could change rapidly if subsidies are extended, creating major uncertainty during open enrollment beginning Nov. 1.

Read at kffhealthnews.org