Slate Daily Feed What Next - Healthcare Is Expensive. It’s About To Get Worse.
Dec 9, 2025
Julie Rovner, Chief Washington correspondent for KFF Health News and host of What the Health, dives into the impending crisis of expiring ACA tax credits that could spike health insurance premiums for millions. She discusses how these credits were created and the consequences of their lapse. The conversation also covers the political dynamics of the Senate vote, the complexity of GOP support for ACA, and how Biden-era changes made healthcare more affordable. Julie highlights the risks of zero-premium plans and the larger implications for voters.
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Enrollment Deadline Compresses Congress's Timeline
- Open enrollment deadlines mean quick action: to start Jan 1st, enrollment must be done by Dec 15th.
- That timeline compresses Congress's window to avert cancellations or rate shocks.
Show Vote Likely, Passage Uncertain
- Senate planned a clean up-or-down vote to extend credits for three years, but passage looked unlikely.
- Delays or negotiations could push the vote or prevent any immediate fix.
Republican Politics Versus Constituent Interests
- Many Republicans fear being publicly tied to supporting the ACA despite their constituents benefiting.
- This ideological history makes bipartisan fixes politically fraught.