Sign for emergency medical service. (Photo: David DeWitt, Ohio Capital Journal.)
Much of the federal government has been closed to business since last week.
A poll released last week shows that many Americans are just learning about much of the fight. But that being the case, the huge majority believe insurance subsidies should be expanded — including for 427,000 Ohioans.
The government shut down on October 1 because the majority of Republicans in Congress could not get enough votes to fund the government for another seven weeks. Senate Democrats are demanding several concessions on health care before they support it.
An vital one is the introduction of eternal tax credits for health insurance purchased in individual markets created by the Affordable Care Act. Established in 2021, they provided an average annual grant of $705 last year.
As part of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Republicans this summer extended massive tax cuts into 2017 that heavily skewed in favor of the wealthiest Americans.
But so far they are unwilling to consider extending the ACA tax breaks, which expire on December 31. Open enrollment begins November 1, and health care experts predict premiums will be more than double for most of the 24 million Americans who buy insurance on the marketplaces.
There are already companies in Ohio offering products on exchanges They demand interest rate increases of up to 40%..
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Two days after the government shutdown, the nonprofit health analysis organization KFF conducted: tracking survey regarding insurance subsidies.
It found that most Americans had no idea about the issue, with 61% saying they knew little or nothing about it.
However, their preferences became clear when they were told what the fight was about: “As you may know, in 2021, Congress increased the financial assistance provided through tax credits available to certain low- and moderate-income people who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act platform to lend a hand them afford their premiums.
Asked whether they thought Congress should extend the credits or let them expire, 78% said they would like to extend them. This includes 82% of independents, 59% of Republicans and 57% of self-described MAGA supporters.
Majorities in both parties also said they would be “very concerned” to learn that the subsidy’s expiration could make insurance unavailable or cause 4 million people to lose coverage altogether or harm small-business workers and self-employed Americans. If the number of uninsured Americans increases, so will the burden of free care on already stressed rural and safety-net hospitals.
As is often the case, there may be a disconnect between the policies Americans want and whether they are willing to pay for them.
When asked, “If Congress stretches regarding these increased tax breaks, how concerned would you be if you heard that it would require significant federal spending that would be largely paid for by taxpayers?”
Sixty-three percent said they would be very or somewhat concerned about this prospect.
