What's behind the health care fight that led to the government shutdown

A fight over health policy drove the current federal government shutdown.

At issue is the cost of premiums for health care plans people buy on the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, marketplaces.

Enhanced tax credits for these premiums expire at the end of the year. Since 2021, those have kept ACA plans affordable for people who get their insurance this way.

Earlier this week, Democrats in the Senate refused to vote for the Republican short-term funding bill that did not include an extension of the enhanced premium tax credits.

So why do they matter?

The enhanced tax credits are important for people who don't get health insurance through their job or a public program like Medicare or Medicaid. This year enrollment hit a record 24 million .

That is only about 7% of the U.S. popula