Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Conversation
The Conversation
SoRelle Wyckoff Gaynor, Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Politics, University of Virginia

Congress takes up health care again − and impatient voters shouldn’t hold their breath for a cure

Congress has long been unable to come to an agreement on how to help constituents pay for health care. iStock/Getty Images Plus

As the bell struck midnight on Jan. 1, 2026, time ran out on Obamacare subsidies for over 24 million Americans. These subsidies, propped up through various legislative packages over the years, lowered the health insurance costs for Americans on the Obamacare exchange.

Following the expiration of these subsidies, health insurance premiums are skyrocketing for around 90% of Americans who use health insurance from the exchange. For many Americans, the new year means a choice between paying exorbitant costs or taking the risk of no health insurance at all.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.