Health Insurance Expert Warns Of Steep Costs If Affordable Care Act Subsidies end In 2025

Healthcare has been at the center of the shutdown, with Senate Democrats pushing for an extension of tax credits under the Affordable Care Act. Since that didn't happen, it's now possible credits will disappear altogether starting next year. News 4 San Antonio's Destiny Fuller joins us with a breakdown. Destiny? Affordable Care Act tax credits, or subsidies, help hundreds of thousands of people maintain affordable healthcare coverage. I sat down with a health insurance expert who says without it, their future is uncertain. They won't be able to get health insurance, they won't be able to get their needs met, they won't be able to see their doctors. That's what health insurance broker Ernest Kyle expects will happen if subsidies under the Affordable Care Act expire at the end of this year. If it doesn't extend to 2026, you're looking at a family of four probably paying $2,000 or $3,000 a month for premium. Senate leaders spent 43 days going back and forth over a handful of issues, including affordable healthcare for Americans. Democrats pushing to extend those subsidies, also known as tax credits, through next year. Many low-income families, they rely on those subsidies to be able to afford their health insurance, be able to pay their insurance. So a lot of people, they'll be paying zero co-pays for doctor visits, 10-hour specialist visits, getting their medications for free. According to the organization KFF, people who rely on enhanced subsidies would have spent at least $705 on their annual coverage. In Texas, nearly 4 million people enrolled in 2025. Data from the Century Foundation shows more than 235,000 of those came from Bexar County in 2024. It's just very expensive, very expensive, and a regular person just can't afford it. If Republicans do not agree on an alternative solution before the end of this year, they'll have to decide whether to join the Democrats in extending the ACA tax credits in January. Open enrollment for 2026 started on November 1st. And though there's no official decision on whether or not subsidies will stay in place, Ernest is encouraging people to still enroll while they can. Destiny Fuller, News 4 San Antonio.