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bigtree

(92,811 posts)
Thu Oct 2, 2025, 04:03 PM 12 hrs ago

When you hear one of these media folks all snide about Dems demanding the ACA tax cut extension

..like the handful I heard this morning questioning the wisdom of Democratic leaders choosing the Obamacare tax credit as their primary demand, I just think they have to be so well off that they don't ever have a need to consider the price of anything.

Consider that reublicans made most of their extension of Trump's 2017 tax bill permanent, and they're waving the tax credit that affects millions of Americans that they refused to make permanent in Democrats' faces like republicans don't also advantage ACA tax credits to reduce the cost of their own health insurance premiums.

The ACA tax credits are set to expire on December 31, 2025, unless Congress intervenes. Approximately 22 million Americans rely on the Affordable Care Act tax credits to lower their health insurance costs. Since their introduction in 2021, nearly 50 million Americans have been covered.

Ari Melber was estimating the price increase in a conversation with AOC, and he supposed they'd rise by 10%-15%, but the representative corrected him that premiums are due to at least DOUBLE, maybe triple if the tax credit expires, for 22 million Americans.

That means after December, tens of millions of Americans who ccan't afford health insurance won't have any coverage at all.

Steven Rattner@SteveRattner
Democrats are fighting to preserve an Obamacare tax credit. Without it, a 55-year-old couple making $85K would see their premiums more than triple to $24,535.



The other important thing Democratic leaders are demanding alongside of their insistence that these tax credits get extended, is that Congress deal here and now with the rescission loophole that allows the president to claw back money from this bipartisan deal and others, which makes the whole process just a farce and a con.

From what I understand, their view is that prioritizing something so important and vital to millions of Americans will make clear to Americans why they're fighting, and draw them into the battle to undo this and other benefits held hostage or eliminated by this republican majority.

I agree.

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When you hear one of these media folks all snide about Dems demanding the ACA tax cut extension (Original Post) bigtree 12 hrs ago OP
And what about coverages? SheltieLover 12 hrs ago #1
well bigtree 12 hrs ago #2
I know that, but aside from premiums what will the insured be screwed out of? SheltieLover 12 hrs ago #4
The issue at hand is the enhanced tax credits. subterranean 7 hrs ago #11
right bigtree 4 hrs ago #12
We were in control at time, was 12/31/2025 deadline for extension best we could do? Silent Type 12 hrs ago #3
they were passed under the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021 bigtree 12 hrs ago #5
I know what happened, could we have done better is my question? Silent Type 12 hrs ago #6
I thought the answer explained that bigtree 12 hrs ago #7
It's not a priority for most leftstreet 12 hrs ago #8
much lower in smaller firms bigtree 10 hrs ago #9
Small businesses and independent contractors/gig workers are screwed. haele 9 hrs ago #10

bigtree

(92,811 posts)
2. well
Thu Oct 2, 2025, 04:08 PM
12 hrs ago

....after December, tens of millions of Americans who can't afford health insurance won't have any coverage at all.

SheltieLover

(74,164 posts)
4. I know that, but aside from premiums what will the insured be screwed out of?
Thu Oct 2, 2025, 04:15 PM
12 hrs ago


It's always most informative, in my experience, to listen for what they are not saying!

Pre-existing conditions?

Mental health parity?

Preventative diagnostics & care?

Deductibles?

subterranean

(3,696 posts)
11. The issue at hand is the enhanced tax credits.
Thu Oct 2, 2025, 09:02 PM
7 hrs ago

Those are set to expire at the end of this year, but that would not affect any of the things you listed (for people who can still afford insurance).

bigtree

(92,811 posts)
5. they were passed under the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021
Thu Oct 2, 2025, 04:21 PM
12 hrs ago

...during the pandemic.

The enhanced premium tax credits, part of the American Rescue Plan Act and extended through the Inflation Reduction Act, led to record enrollment in the ACA marketplace, with millions of people gaining access to health insurance coverage.

The credits also eliminated the "subsidy cliff," which previously prevented individuals with higher incomes from receiving financial assistance for health insurance.

Take it from there... what were the politics at the time, Senate balance, etc.

bigtree

(92,811 posts)
7. I thought the answer explained that
Thu Oct 2, 2025, 04:31 PM
12 hrs ago

...it was passed in a pandemic rescue plan, and if we're honest, was a bit subversive in how it not only extended coverage to millions, but allowed higher income folks to benefit from it.

Can you really imagine republicans agreeing to a permanent one then? Go back and look at the political balance of power for yourself and make your own judgment

Maga's really steamed we put this over on them, did it FOR ALL Americans, and they'd like nothing more than to return us back to a time where these millions were shit out of luck.

leftstreet

(37,429 posts)
8. It's not a priority for most
Thu Oct 2, 2025, 04:31 PM
12 hrs ago

Most people get their insurance through their employer, or programs like Medicare and Sups, Medicaid, VA, etc - like over 220 million

Not saying the 22 million needing the credits aren't important, but I get why they question it as a primary demand

haele

(14,671 posts)
10. Small businesses and independent contractors/gig workers are screwed.
Thu Oct 2, 2025, 07:07 PM
9 hrs ago

Back to the bad old days when you prayed that you had a state that required anyone with more than 10 employees was required to pay worker's comp insurance and you only got sick or injured at work, because the only heath care insurance that was "affordable" gave your family 1 each free GP visit a year, 20% off 4 visits a year per insuree for specialists, and 50% off coupons for pharmacy, lab work and other specific diagnostic tests at designated locations. No deductible.

I worked shipyards for a small company that had that insurance for 3 years, 1992 through 1996. Along with crappy dentist and vision.

I'm still carrying body trauma and damage from that period.

But one thing I can say - if that's the return to the type of insurance the GQP wants for poor and low pay working people, they can also proudly point out they're fixing the Social Security issue, by increasing the amount of people who won't last much past retirement...just like US in the 50's and 60's.

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