House passes bill extending health care subsidies, bucking GOP leaders [View all]

Source: Washington Post

January 8, 2026 at 5:14 p.m. EST


More than a dozen House Republicans joined every Democrat on Thursday to pass a bill to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies for three years — the sharpest rejection by GOP members of the party’s leadership yet.

The pandemic-era subsidies expired at the end of last year, driving up costs for millions of Americans who buy health insurance on the ACA marketplace and qualified for the assistance. GOP leaders made no attempt to address the issue as the deadline neared, despite warnings from members in swing districts that higher prices could threaten their chances in this fall’s midterm elections. The party has been trying unsuccessfully to dismantle the ACA since it became law in 2010.

Prospects for passage in the Senate are unclear, though, as the chamber has already blocked attempts to extend the subsidies.

The lack of action in the House led four House Republicans to join Democrats in December to force a vote on legislation backed by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York). The vote Thursday over the objections of House Republican leaders was the result of that maneuver. The bill passed by a 230-196 vote, with 17 Republicans supporting it.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/01/08/house-passes-aca-subsidies-bill/