Congress races against the clock to avert skyrocketing health care costs for millions [View all]

Source: CNN Politics

PUBLISHED Dec 14, 2025, 5:54 PM ET


Lawmakers are scrambling to address skyrocketing health care costs in the final days before Congress leaves Washington for the holidays, with enhanced tax credits that make insurance premiums more affordable for millions of Americans set to expire at the end of the month.

After the Senate failed to advance health care plans spearheaded by each party last week, it’s the House’s turn to take up proposals with similarly uncertain outcomes.

Speaker Mike Johnson has vowed to hold a vote on a Republican-led bill released last week, which includes provisions to lower premiums for certain Affordable Care Act enrollees through a cost-sharing reduction program. The plan would not extend the Covid-era subsidies due to lapse at the end of this month.

GOP leaders are also expected to allow an amendment to extend the ACA credits to come to the floor, as swing-state Republicans like Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania seek to force a vote on the issue. The legislative path to passing a short-term extension of the expiring subsidies before both chambers depart on Friday until early January seems all but impossible.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/14/politics/health-care-congress-bills-aca-subsidies