Now that the longest government shutdown in U.S. history has come to an end, healthcare organizations are urging lawmakers to act quickly to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.
Charlene MacDonald, executive vice president for public affairs at the Federation of American Hospitals, said in a statement that extending the tax credits is "the only mechanism to immediately cut costs for hardworking families already struggling to make ends meet."
“No more posturing, no more politics," she said. "It is time for pragmatic lawmakers to come together, focus on lowering costs for their constituents and extend the healthcare tax credits."
The subsidies were at the heart of the shutdown, with Senate Democrats holding out on a budget deal to secure an extension as the tax credits are set to expire at the end of this year. The premium subsidies drove significant increases in enrollment in the exchanges, and many individuals are now seeing far higher prices for coverage.
The budget deal signed into law late Wednesday ultimately did not include an extension for the tax credits, though Senate Republicans did commit to a vote on the issue. Meanwhile, open enrollment on the exchanges began in the midst of the shutdown, meaning many people signing up for coverage experienced significant sticker shock.
What a plan for the subsidies may look like remains to be seen. Democrats have urged for a full extension, while some Republicans have instead called for an extension that reforms the subsidy calculations.
President Donald Trump has said since the campaign trail that he has the "concepts of a plan" for healthcare, and said on social media this week that he would prefer to send people money directly to purchase coverage, per a report from ABC News. How that would work and how much money people would receive was not made clear.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association said in a statement that while it's good news "that the government can return to essential business for our nation," extending the subsidies is popular politically and will help many.
"Without an extension, millions will be priced out of the individual marketplace, while millions of others will see their monthly premiums double or worse," the organization said. "We urge bipartisan leaders from both sides of the aisle to come together to ensure this financial lifeline makes health care affordable in 2026 and beyond."
The Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) echoed the sentiment, saying its members "experience firsthand how these tax credits make a real difference in people’s lives."
"This was a missed opportunity to protect hardworking families from higher premiums and to preserve the stability of the individual market," the ACHP said. "The expiration of these tax credits represents a dangerous step backward for affordability and access to coverage."
Extending the tax credits does enjoy broad support, with a poll released earlier this month by KFF finding that 74% of voters support an extension—this includes 94% of Democrats, 76% of independents and 50% of Republicans, per the report.
KFF did note that support slipped slightly as the shutdown wore on.
Catholic Health Association of the United States CEO Sr. Mary Haddad said in a statement that "the prospect of even higher healthcare costs is unsustainable" for people who are already struggling under inflation and other financial pressures.
"Healthcare is a basic human right—not something reserved for those who can afford it," she said.
Congress must act swiftly to ensure that every person has access to affordable, reliable coverage," Haddad continued. "Extending these tax credits isn’t just a necessary step—it’s a vital safeguard for millions of families who depend on stable, affordable healthcare."
AHIP CEO Mike Tuffin said that an extension would bring "immediate" relief to millions of individuals and families who rely on this market.
"With timely bipartisan action, Congress can both provide peace of mind to millions of Americans for 2026 and enact solutions to further strengthen the individual market in the years ahead," Tuffin said.