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Congress Failed to Extend the Health Care Subsidies. Now What?

This week, despite a last-ditch effort by some House Republicans to strike a deal on health care, Congress remains deadlocked on whether to extend support for millions of Americans who get their health care through the Affordable Care Act. Margot Sanger-Katz, who covers health care policy, explains who will be most affected by the decision. Then, we hear directly from some of the Americans who will now face a decision: whether to keep paying for rising insurance costs or to risk going without it.
Duration
29m
Broadcast on
18 Dec 2025
Audio Format
other

This week, despite a last-ditch effort by some House Republicans to strike a deal on health care, Congress remains deadlocked on whether to extend support for millions of Americans who get their health care through the Affordable Care Act.

Margot Sanger-Katz, who covers health care policy, explains who will be most affected by the decision.

Then, we hear directly from some of the Americans who will now face a decision: whether to keep paying for rising insurance costs or to risk going without it.

Guest: Margot Sanger-Katz, a reporter for The New York Times who covers health care policy and government spending.

Background reading: 

Photo: Eric Lee for The New York Times

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

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This podcast is supported by TikTok. Sometimes the most interesting discoveries are the ones you weren't looking for. That happens every day on TikTok. A science experiment can spark a whole new interest. A recipe you stumble upon can become a meal you make for the people you love. And a restaurant you've never heard of might become your new favorite spot. That's the thing about TikTok. Follow your curiosity and see where it leads. Your next discovery is waiting on TikTok. From The New York Times, I'm Rachel Abrams, and this is The Daily. I don't really pray much, but I pray at night that something happened, that I wake up in the morning and I check the news and that the subsidy was exempt. Something that will make it not $55,000 next year, something. This week, despite a last ditch effort by some House Republicans to strike a deal on health care, Capitol Hill remains deadlocked on whether to extend support for millions of Americans who get their health care through the Affordable Care Act. Without subsidies, it would be the minimum of $1,500 a month. I know it wasn't no way. My original estimate was about a 1,200% increase. I think I was in tears the entire rest of the week after I got that name. That's left those Americans to confront a wrenching decision. I asked my husband, "What should we do?" He was like, "Maybe we go without health insurance." And I was like, "Oh my God, no way." Keep paying for rising insurance costs or risk going without it. That's been a really tough couple of months. A lot of just like mentally preparing for what this next year is going to look like. And it's pretty grim. Today, my colleague, Marco Sanger Katz, explains who will be most affected and how this could all change the political landscape heading into the midterms. It's Thursday, December 18th. Marco, welcome back to The Daily. Thank you so much. It really feels like health care and debates over health insurance have been in the news like every other day almost. And in large part, that's because there have been

Transcription truncated.

This week, despite a last-ditch effort by some House Republicans to strike a deal on health care, Congress remains deadlocked on whether to extend support for millions of Americans who get their health care through the Affordable Care Act. Margot Sanger-Katz, who covers health care policy, explains who will be most affected by the decision. Then, we hear directly from some of the Americans who will now face a decision: whether to keep paying for rising insurance costs or to risk going without it.