ACA subsidies on the brink as Congress struggles to reach a deal

Congressional negotiations to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies have veered off course.

Subsidies were expanded during the coronavirus pandemic to blunt rapidly rising premiums. Those subsidies are set to lapse in less than a month. The shutdown-ending deal struck between Republicans and defectors in the Democratic Party in early November was pitched as a way to give both parties breathing room in negotiations for a bipartisan extension. Instead, lawmakers have spent the weeks since retrenching around familiar fights while millions of Americans face steep health insurance hikes come January.

Democrats entered December signaling they were prepared to negotiate limits on the subsidies, but talks sputtered almost immediately. Republicans have insisted that any extension must rev