Why Democrats are casting the government shutdown as a health care showdown

"Those votes, he cautioned, are at risk if Congress doesn't pass a law to preserve low premiums on Affordable Care Act marketplace plans for the roughly 4.7 million people living in his home state of Florida who are enrolled in the coverage. "Hispanic voters helped return Donald Trump to the White House," said Fuentes, the CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "Republican leaders would do right by their constituents to keep coverage affordable, and they will remember that heading into the midterms.""

"With less than a month to go before many Americans pick next year's health insurance plan, Democrats in Congress are holding up government funding to pressure Republicans into extending billions of dollars in federal tax credits that have in recent years dramatically lowered premiums and contributed to record-low rates of uninsured Americans. Democrats see the high-stakes standoff as a chance to talk about affordable health care as millions of Americans including those enrolled in coverage through workplace or Medicare brace for higher costs next year."

Democrats in Congress are withholding government funding to pressure Republicans to extend federal premium tax credits that have significantly lowered Affordable Care Act marketplace premiums. Approximately 4.7 million people in Florida rely on those credits, and Hispanic voters are cited as particularly concerned about potential premium increases ahead of the midterms. A KFF analysis shows that 80% of all premium tax credits benefited enrollees in states carried by Trump. Open enrollment is underway as insurers prepare notices revealing next year's premium rates for roughly 24 million people enrolled in ACA coverage. Republicans emphasize that Democrats forced the shutdown and express confidence their position will hold.

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