Trump Urges Funds Be Paid to Individuals Just as ACA Premiums Set to Double for 22 Million Americans
Millions of Americans face startling increases in health-insurance costs starting in 2026, with experts warning that premium hikes — driven by expiring subsidies and insurer rate increases — could reshape access to coverage across the country.
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Roughly 22 million Americans enrolled in plans through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace currently rely on enhanced premium tax credits. These subsidies are scheduled to expire on December 31, 2025. According to the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), without those credits, premiums could climb by 75% on average, and in many cases more than double.
The looming jump comes on top of already announced rate increases from insurers. Multiple ACA marketplace insurers have filed for base premium hikes ranging from 12% to 27% in 2026, the steepest increase since 2018.
For example, a family paying roughly $100 a month today could see that climb to $175 — a nearly $900 annual increase — before factoring in any plan changes or deductibles.
On December 8, 2025, President Donald Trump addressed rising premiums during a White House event. He argued that federal funds should be delivered directly to individuals rather than insurance companies.
That stance echoes a widely shared social-media post, though NewsBreak Desk cannot find any official record of Trump using the phrase “the insurance companies are owned by the Democrats,” as quoted in the screenshot.
What happens next depends heavily on Congress. Lawmakers are considering whether to extend the enhanced subsidies, but internal Republican resistance and budget concerns make the outcome uncertain. If Congress fails to act, analysts warn that millions of middle-income Americans may be forced to pay far more for coverage, downgrade to less comprehensive plans, or drop insurance altogether.
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With enrollment already near record highs — about 24 million Americans are covered through ACA marketplaces in 2025 — a sharp drop in coverage could ripple across the health-care system, increasing uncompensated care and premiums for remaining insured people.
As patients and policymakers brace for 2026, one question looms: will Congress step in, or will millions of Americans be left paying the price of a subsidy cliff?