ACA

During Covid the congress approved enhanced payments to those on ACA also known as Obamacare. These payments were scheduled to end this year but the democrats will not vote to open the government unless these enhanced payments are extended. The payments cost the government $35 billion per year and once benefits are in force, they are difficult to remove. This is why public assistance programs often start as temporary and convert to permanent. This is what happened to the tax cuts in Trumps beautiful new bill. They were set to end this year but were extended. The democrats fought against this just as the republicans are fighting against the ACA extension. This enhancement brought in 24 million new patients to the ACA bringing the current total to 45 million and the extra new members cost the government $35 billion per year. The republicans want to argue the extension after the government reopens but the democrats fear the republicans will not bring it up before the congress and it will die. More than 50% receive some assistance with 5 million paying no monthly premium and no annual deductible. If the extension is not approved then the average monthly premium will increase from $74 to $132. The annual deductible is $2,789 and will not change. The monthly premium is not included in the annual deductible. Most articles discuss the monthly premium but avoid the annual deductible which is much more of a burden. The average ACA recipient must pay out of pocket over $4,000 per year before they are covered.