Congress faces crucial decision on ACA

As Congress prepares to finalize its leadership in both chambers, the fate of health insurance subsidies for millions of Americans hangs in the balance. Essentially, if Republicans wrest control of the House along with their victories at the White House, Senate, and Supreme Court, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) likely will end. In 2024, enrollment in ACA marketplaces reached historic highs, with over 45 million nationwide now enrolled in ACA-related coverage—a 46% increase since 2021 and more than three times the enrollment since the ACA’s early years in 2014.The program, known as Obamacare, has become an essential fixture in the U.S. healthcare system. “For decades, when it came to federal programs we could depend on to keep Americans covered, three were always top of mind—Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, but now it’s crystal clear that we need to add a fourth—the Affordable Care Act.,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra proclaimed earlier this year. Becerra praised the recent wave of enrollment, adding, “A record-breaking number of Americans have signed up for affordable health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace, and now they and their families have the peace of mind that comes with coverage.”The record enrollment has primarily been driven...