Status of the Affordable Care Act
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Julie Rovner KFF Health News
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Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News’ weekly health policy news podcast, “What Is Health?” Julie is a renowned expert on health policy issues and is the author of the critically acclaimed reference book Health Care Policy and Politics A to Z, now in its third edition.
Open enrollment for health plans under the Affordable Care Act began on November 1, yet it remains unclear how much the estimated 24 million Americans who buy on the ACA’s marketplaces are expected to pay in premiums starting in January. Unless Congress acts to extend the tax credits added to the program in 2021, most consumers are expected to contribute more of their own money; In some cases, double or triple what they pay in 2025.
The politics of this year’s ACA battle are also complex. Democrats are using the only leverage they have — shutting down the government — to try to force Republicans to negotiate over expired tax breaks from the ACA. However, many, if not most, of the people who will face much higher premiums in 2026 are from GOP-dominated states like Texas and Florida, and belong to professions that tend to be more Republican than Democratic, such as farmers, ranchers, or small business owners.
In this special episode of “What is Health?” From KFF Health News and WAMU, host Julie Rovner speaks with Cynthia Cox, KFF’s vice president and its program director at the ACA. Cox explains what the nation’s health system looked like before the health law was passed, how it reduced health spending and improved insurance coverage, and the strange politics of the current battle.
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Cynthia Cox KFF
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Taylor Cook Audio Producer Stephanie Stapleton Editor
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