As Senate Republicans prepare to vote on Democrats’ proposal to bring down health care premiums for hard-working American families, they need not look far to see how unpopular the Trump-GOP war on health care is with their constituents. Headlines about the latest Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) poll on the GOP premium hikes are splashed across major outlets, a timely reminder that as Trump and Republicans drag working families towards crippling medical debt, they’re dragging their own party’s midterm hopes down too. Just one question remains for Trump and the GOP: how long can they continue catering to the ultra-wealthy while ignoring their constituents’ desperate pleas for affordable health care?
AP: Where the Blame Will Fall if ACA Subsidies Expire, According to a New Poll
- “Most of the more than 1,300 enrollees surveyed in early November say they anticipate that their health costs will be impacted next year if Congress doesn’t extend expiring COVID-era tax credits that help more than 90% of enrollees pay for health insurance premiums, per KFF. The possibility of an extension looks increasingly unlikely.”
Newsweek: Republicans Get Warning About Health Care Tax Credits as Vote Looms—Poll
- “The KFF poll suggested Republicans could pay a price if they don’t support a bill to extend the tax credits. The vast [majority] of enrollees—84 percent—say Congress should extend the tax credits, and few would blame Democrats if they expire. Of that 84 percent, only 23 percent said Democrats would be responsible for their expiration.”
ABC News: 1 in 4 Affordable Care Act Enrollees Would ‘Very Likely’ Forego Health Insurance if Premiums Double: Poll
- “Another survey respondent, Venus, 27, from Kentucky, who withheld her last name due to privacy reasons, told ABC News it’s currently difficult to pay for the cost of her and her husband’s monthly health insurance premiums. ‘Mainly because we only have one income and we have to pay for two health insurances for people with two different chronic illnesses,’ she said. ‘It’s our most difficult monthly cost to pay.’”
Reuters: Obamacare Premium Spikes Could Drive Off Enrollees, Most Want Subsidy Extension, KFF Finds
- “According to KFF’s poll, a $1,000 increase in overall healthcare expenses, including co-pays, deductibles, and premiums, would influence decisions on whether to vote and for which party next year for half of the marketplace plan enrollees.”
The Hill: Most Americans Want Congress to Extend ObamaCare Subsidies: Poll
- “If Congress does not act and allows the subsidies to expire, the survey found blame would largely be aimed at President Trump, at 41 percent, and congressional Republicans, at 35 percent. Enrollees are not confident that Trump or GOP lawmakers will address health care costs; 66 percent said they have “not too much” or no confidence in Trump doing so, and 65 percent said the same of congressional Republicans.”
CNN: Millions of Republicans on Obamacare Want Enhanced Subsidies Extended. Most Hill Republicans Don’t
- “Although Obamacare has historically not been very popular among the GOP, more than 9 million Republicans and Republican-leaning independents depend on it for their health insurance this year, according to KFF. They account for nearly 40% of enrollees this year.”
The New York Times: Poll Suggests G.O.P. Will Face More Blame if Obamacare Subsidies Go Away
- “Some voters may punish congressional Republicans in next year’s midterm elections if expanded Obamacare insurance subsidies are allowed to expire at the end of this month, a new poll released Thursday suggests… About half of people covered by Obamacare plans who are registered to vote said such an increase would have a “major impact” on how or whether they vote in the 2026 midterms, according to the survey.”
Axios: ACA Premium Hikes Would Force Painful Choices: Survey
- “The survey shows how people would try to minimize the pain if they have a big jump in ACA premiums next year — which is almost certain to happen since Congress looks increasingly unlikely to reach an agreement to extend the subsidies… Both parties would get some blame if the premiums go up, but more people with ACA coverage would blame President Trump (37%) or congressional Republicans (33%) than Democrats (29%).”