The COVID-19 pandemic forced the United States to cope with a health insurance crisis it didn’t anticipate. Congress and the Biden administration responded by enacting policies to expand access to subsidized private health plans sold through Affordable Care Act exchanges.
The results were nothing short of spectacular: Fewer than 10% of Americans are uninsured, compared to nearly 22% in 2010. In addition, a record 14.5 million consumers are enrolled in a state health insurance exchange plan.
However, unless Congress takes action, the subsidies will expire at the end of the year, and millions of Americans will experience dramatic price increases, become uninsured and likely accrue medical debt.