Trump take healthcare
By 
One central reason Republicans have shut down the government is to ensure that this happens:
Sticker shock over higher costs for Affordable Care Act plans is hitting many enrollees around the country who are now learning about hefty increases in what they might pay next year, putting the healthcare subsidies at the heart of the government shutdown in the spotlight.
When Jessica Bunger saw her plan’s monthly premium for 2026, she burst into tears. Starting in January, her insurance will cost more than $1,100 a month if she doesn’t qualify for a government subsidy. That is more than four times what she pays now, factoring in federal help.
After looking over a notice from her insurer that provided the new rates, “I was sick to my stomach,” said Bunger, a 45-year-old from Fort Myers, Fla., who co-owns a video and photography studio. “I’ve never felt so powerless in my life.”
Bunger regularly sees a specialist for an eye condition and may in the future require surgery to avoid blindness. She can’t go without coverage, she said, but she also can’t afford the full 2026 premium, and she isn’t sure how much federal help she will get next year.
About 24 million Americans enrolled in ACA health plans are getting letters from insurers informing them of their 2026 rates. On Tuesday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released rates and other data for plans offered through the federal marketplace, HealthCare.gov. The plans, including pricing, are expected to be posted publicly on HealthCare.gov soon.
Many will confront premiums that jump by percentages well into the double digits, according to finalized state rate filing documents compiled by health-research nonprofit KFF. Insurers blame increasing healthcare spending, among other factors.
The scope of the rate increases is likely to add fuel to the debate between Democrats and Republicans over the federal government’s shutdown.
Democrats want to continue enhanced federal subsidies that defray health-insurance bills for most ACA enrollees, few of whom pay the full premiums for their plans. The Democrats hope angry ACA policyholders will buoy their arguments. Republicans have flagged concerns about costs and possible fraud, and said they refuse to negotiate the issue while the federal government remains closed.
People thinking that things had gotten too expensive was probably the single biggest factor in Trump’s victory. True story!