Affordable Care Act and Health Insurance

After enhanced ACA premium tax credits lapsed, marketplace sign‑ups for 2026 fell to roughly 22.8–23 million (down about 1.2–1.4 million year‑over‑year) while KFF estimates average premiums for affected enrollees could more than double (about a 114% jump, from ~$888 to ~$1,904), forcing middle‑income families, the self‑employed and small farmers to downgrade or drop coverage and prompting some to abandon small businesses or farming. The House narrowly advanced a three‑year "clean" extension 221–205 with bipartisan defections, but Senate negotiations have largely collapsed over disputes — including abortion‑coverage limits — leaving millions at risk despite the possibility of retroactive tax‑credit relief.