End of Obamacare Subsidies?

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Over_ed
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4:55a, 12/11/25
AG
Looks like the end is to be written today.

Two votes today the Republican plan to replace subsidies and the Democrat plan to extend subsides. Neither is projected to pass. The one most likely to pass, the Republican bill, is DOA in the house.

Meanwhile, in the house yesterday, about a dozen moderate republicans (swing districts) created a discharge petition to force a vote for the subsidies. This is a time-proven way the leadership provides cover, so these swing reps can claim they fought to retain the subsidies to their more liberal constituents.

So, the writing is on the wall, and today (Thursday) is fly-out day for the Senate, it is over.

Since Obamacare is crappy plans matched with high prices, this will be the end of Obamacare. My wife worked an extra year just to avoid going on it; she vested for a retirement plan with the company's insurance.

Obamacare is one of the key things destroying affordability it deserves to die a painful death.

Link - but don't take the headline seriously, this is not a real attempt to keep subsidies alive.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/12/10/bipartisan-effort-extend-aca-subsidies/

ETA- the subsidies being eliminated are the "temporary" subsidies enacted during COVID. Should have made that clear, lower income are still complete freeloaders. Thanks Logos Stick.
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MouthBQ98
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5:23a, 12/11/25
AG
Good. It is a terrible system only kept limping along by gigantic inflationary wealth transfers to bureaucratic health insurance corporations
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ts5641
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5:47a, 12/11/25
Let's hope this is the end. If any group can screw it up it's Congress.
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normalhorn
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6:03a, 12/11/25
If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.
...take it easy on me, I'm a normal horn
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G Martin 87
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In reply to normalhorn • 6:08a, 12/11/25
AG
normalhorn said:
If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.
That would be a neat trick, as the ACA was passed without a single Republican vote and its nickname is literally "Obamacare."
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fc2112
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6:19a, 12/11/25
I seem to recall...

When these subsidies were put in place, they were "small" and just a "tweak" to help out during the pandemic.

And now that they are expiring, there will be "massive increases" that will "cripple" families.
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BBRex
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6:19a, 12/11/25
AG
Man, I wish they would have the guts to make some changes. First step: disconnect health insurance from employment. That would help with pre-existing conditions, one of the more popular provisions of Obamacare.
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normalhorn
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In reply to G Martin 87 • 6:19a, 12/11/25
G Martin 87 said:
normalhorn said:
If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.
That would be a neat trick, as the ACA was passed without a single Republican vote and its nickname is literally "Obamacare."


Reading comprehension is key to my comment. I'm not arguing for/against Obamacare. I didn't mention it in my comment, either
What I'm asking is how is the GOP going to fend off the 40-60 million Obamacare users that have seen their rates go through the roof?
The GOP can let Obamacare die. But, they've also said they have a better plan that will fix the system. (Hint- they don't and never did).
Just like Democrats that ruin the economy with their policies and then blame it on Republicans once they're in office, so too will unaffordable healthcare insurance.
...take it easy on me, I'm a normal horn
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LOYAL AG
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In reply to normalhorn • 6:33a, 12/11/25
AG
normalhorn said:
G Martin 87 said:
normalhorn said:
If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.
That would be a neat trick, as the ACA was passed without a single Republican vote and its nickname is literally "Obamacare."


Reading comprehension is key to my comment. I'm not arguing for/against Obamacare. I didn't mention it in my comment, either
What I'm asking is how is the GOP going to fend off the 40-60 million Obamacare users that have seen their rates go through the roof?
The GOP can let Obamacare die. But, they've also said they have a better plan that will fix the system. (Hint- they don't and never did).
Just like Democrats that ruin the economy with their policies and then blame it on Republicans once they're in office, so too will unaffordable healthcare insurance.


What about the 100 million of us responsible enough to buy our own insurance who are seeing rates go through the roof? I have a client facing an 18% increase and that's the best renewal their broker has seen this year. She said she has a group that got a 92% increase and every other carrier was more. Obamacare did what it was supposed to do, it broke the health insurance market and made it completely unaffordable for everyone and particularly for individuals and small businesses. It was a hand out to the insurance companies and a talent transfer to large corporations who have more stable rates compared to small businesses. It's been an unmitigated disaster in every way imaginable.
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nortex97
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In reply to LOYAL AG • 6:41a, 12/11/25
AG
Yes. As designed. Passed in 2010, went into effect variously in 2011-2013.

Just last year the Biden(*) WH was bragging about how great it was working since Saint Soetero and his socialist legislator friends (and John Roberts/John McCain) fixed American healthcare to make it $2,500 a year cheaper for Americans.

And it was the Democrats, of course, who made the 'subsidies' temporary.
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LOYAL AG
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In reply to nortex97 • 6:46a, 12/11/25
AG
nortex97 said:
Yes. As designed. Passed in 2010, went into effect variously in 2011-2013.

Just last year the Biden(*) WH was bragging about how great it was working since Saint Soetero and his socialist legislator friends (and John Roberts/John McCain) fixed American healthcare to make it $2,500 a year cheaper for Americans.

And it was the Democrats, of course, who made the 'subsidies' temporary.


Surely they didn't put out those graphs as evidence of how good Obamacare has done at controlling costs? They both say costs skyrocketed which of course they did. Were they arguing that after forcing prices to more than double in four years that we got back to normal price increases and that was evidence this was good policy? I'm confused as to how those graphs paint a good picture for ACA?

And of course no mention of the 50% increase in deductibles or out of pocket maximums. Double the cost for far more exposure. Inflation and shrinkflation all in one bill. Government for the win.
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G Martin 87
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6:52a, 12/11/25
AG
Blaming the GOP for not fixing Obamacare is like blaming the ER physician for not saving a multiple GSW victim that came in DOA.
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Over_ed
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In reply to LOYAL AG • 6:57a, 12/11/25
AG
LOYAL AG said:
normalhorn said:
G Martin 87 said:
normalhorn said:
If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.

That would be a neat trick, as the ACA was passed without a single Republican vote and its nickname is literally "Obamacare."


Reading comprehension is key to my comment. I'm not arguing for/against Obamacare. I didn't mention it in my comment, either
What I'm asking is how is the GOP going to fend off the 40-60 million Obamacare users that have seen their rates go through the roof?
The GOP can let Obamacare die. But, they've also said they have a better plan that will fix the system. (Hint- they don't and never did).
Just like Democrats that ruin the economy with their policies and then blame it on Republicans once they're in office, so too will unaffordable healthcare insurance.


What about the 100 million of us responsible enough to buy our own insurance who are seeing rates go through the roof? I have a client facing an 18% increase and that's the best renewal their broker has seen this year. She said she has a group that got a 92% increase and every other carrier was more. Obamacare did what it was supposed to do, it broke the health insurance market and made it completely unaffordable for everyone and particularly for individuals and small businesses. It was a hand out to the insurance companies and a talent transfer to large corporations who have more stable rates compared to small businesses. It's been an unmitigated disaster in every way imaginable.

I think you are understating if anything. :-) But remember the true goal of Obamcare was to force single payer.
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Tom Fox
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In reply to normalhorn • 7:05a, 12/11/25
normalhorn said:
G Martin 87 said:
normalhorn said:
If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.
That would be a neat trick, as the ACA was passed without a single Republican vote and its nickname is literally "Obamacare."


Reading comprehension is key to my comment. I'm not arguing for/against Obamacare. I didn't mention it in my comment, either
What I'm asking is how is the GOP going to fend off the 40-60 million Obamacare users that have seen their rates go through the roof?
The GOP can let Obamacare die. But, they've also said they have a better plan that will fix the system. (Hint- they don't and never did).
Just like Democrats that ruin the economy with their policies and then blame it on Republicans once they're in office, so too will unaffordable healthcare insurance.


They do have a better plan. Health insurance is not a right. If you want it, you can pay for it without wealth transfers from the fed govt.

That is the best plan.
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WBBQ74
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7:06a, 12/11/25
AG
Calling it 'insurance' is BS. Obamacare is a failure and should be killed with fire.
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normalhorn
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In reply to G Martin 87 • 7:13a, 12/11/25
I'm not blaming the GOP for not fixing Obamacare. Never did I write that.
I'm blaming the GOP for saying that they've got better ideas to curb the massive price increases in insurance, but not actually doing anything to pass legislation to help it as the boasted they would do
As for the 100 million people who are responsible for their own insurance, it sucks too. The quote I got for my wife/kids to be on my policy next year was well more than my mortgage and a car loan (if I had one right now). That's not fun
...take it easy on me, I'm a normal horn
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Hubert J. Farnsworth
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In reply to WBBQ74 • 7:15a, 12/11/25
WBBQ74 said:
Calling it 'insurance' is BS. Obamacare is a failure and should be killed with fire.


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OnlyForNow
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7:18a, 12/11/25
AG
It's not like insurance companies will lower prices...
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Shooter McGavin
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7:21a, 12/11/25
AG
Self employed - my insurance was $1045/month for just me and my wife this past year.

For next year it is $2,022 per month.



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backintexas2013
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7:21a, 12/11/25
AG
We will never do what's necessary to lower prices. It's harsh medicine that we aren't willing to take so we will remain sick and prices will continue to go through the roof.
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LOYAL AG
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7:23a, 12/11/25
AG
The question that's still unanswered is what does this mean for the ridiculous stuff Obamacare required to be added to all of our policies to be compliant. Those are the things that drove up prices. Pediatric dental. Free annual wellness checks. No pre-existing conditions. All of that costs money.

All we've really done is kill the individual mandate in 2018 and now ended government subsidies in 2025. Policies are still required to cover a bunch of incredibly expensive crap people don't need or want. Those things need to go away.
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No Spin Ag
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7:32a, 12/11/25
Is the getting rid of the subsidies eliminate Obamacare in its entirety, or just take it back to where it was before covid?
There are in fact two things, science and opinion; the former begets knowledge, the later ignorance. Hippocrates
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Casual Cynic
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In reply to No Spin Ag • 7:37a, 12/11/25
I don't think it'll be the end, just cause prices on the exchanges to skyrocket. But of course the design all along was for it to collapse into single payer.
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Swan Song
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7:38a, 12/11/25
AG
So can we now stop issuing the dumb 1095s and all the annual reporting by businesses?
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Logos Stick
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In reply to Over_ed • 7:41a, 12/11/25
It's not the end of all subsidies, its the end of the extended subsidies passed during covid, right?!?

The only thing this does is punish the middle class. The bottom feeders that don't pay any income tax still benefit.

Hooray progress!
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G Martin 87
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In reply to LOYAL AG • 8:03a, 12/11/25
AG
LOYAL AG said:
The question that's still unanswered is what does this mean for the ridiculous stuff Obamacare required to be added to all of our policies to be compliant. Those are the things that drove up prices. Pediatric dental. Free annual wellness checks. No pre-existing conditions. All of that costs money.

All we've really done is kill the individual mandate in 2018 and now ended government subsidies in 2025. Policies are still required to cover a bunch of incredibly expensive crap people don't need or want. Those things need to go away.
This. If you want to start lowering premiums, you have to allow health insurance to work like actual insurance and not as a human rights wealth transfer program. That means allowing the premium to reflect the risk of coverage. That has been under assault for decades; Obamacare was the last nail in the coffin.
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WBBQ74
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8:03a, 12/11/25
AG
Three current scourges that need to go away:

1. Obamacare. Free is very expensive.
2. Ambulance chasing attorney and drug ads from TV.
3. Radical Islam and Sharia Law from the USA.
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shiftyandquick
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8:05a, 12/11/25
Pro tip: don't publicly celebrate it. Not good for the election ads.
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TexAgs91
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In reply to Over_ed • 8:06a, 12/11/25
AG
Over_ed said:
Since Obamacare is crappy plans matched with high prices, this will be the end of Obamacare.

About damn time.

John McCain gets credit too though. Otherwise it would have been gone months after Obama left office.
No, I don't care what CNN or Miss NOW said this time
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MouthBQ98
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In reply to normalhorn • 8:13a, 12/11/25
AG
The Dems have blocked every attempt to resolve problems as they demand their own solution is the only option.
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doubledog
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In reply to normalhorn • 8:18a, 12/11/25
normalhorn said:
If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.

Or the GOP politicians will send the money to the people directly and then cast the DNC as "big" health insurance supporters. In that case the DNC will be screwed at the midterms.

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Dad-O-Lot
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In reply to G Martin 87 • 8:20a, 12/11/25
AG
G Martin 87 said:
normalhorn said:
If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.
That would be a neat trick, as the ACA was passed without a single Republican vote and its nickname is literally "Obamacare."


You're right and I agree but do not under-estimate the power of Democrats and their media cheerleaders to get the general public to blame Republicans for problems created by Democrats.
People of integrity expect to be believed, when they're not, they let time prove them right.
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normalhorn
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In reply to doubledog • 8:23a, 12/11/25
doubledog said:
normalhorn said:
If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.

Or the GOP politicians will send the money to the people directly and then cast the DNC as "big" health insurance supporters. In that case the DNC will be screwed at the midterms.


What money (sincerely asking, not prodding)? This idea was passed around and made a few news cycles, then seemed to disappear.

And who will GOP politicians send "the money" to?
...take it easy on me, I'm a normal horn
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Over_ed
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In reply to Logos Stick • 9:44a, 12/11/25
AG
Logos Stick said:
It's not the end of all subsidies, its the end of the extended subsidies passed during covid, right?!?

The only thing this does is punish the middle class. The bottom feeders that don't pay any income tax still benefit.

Hooray progress!

Absolutely true. Sorry, should have made that clear. Great point!
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richardag
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In reply to G Martin 87 • 10:40a, 12/11/25
G Martin 87 said:
LOYAL AG said:
The question that's still unanswered is what does this mean for the ridiculous stuff Obamacare required to be added to all of our policies to be compliant. Those are the things that drove up prices. Pediatric dental. Free annual wellness checks. No pre-existing conditions. All of that costs money.

All we've really done is kill the individual mandate in 2018 and now ended government subsidies in 2025. Policies are still required to cover a bunch of incredibly expensive crap people don't need or want. Those things need to go away.

This. If you want to start lowering premiums, you have to allow health insurance to work like actual insurance and not as a human rights wealth transfer program. That means allowing the premium to reflect the risk of coverage. That has been under assault for decades; Obamacare was the last nail in the coffin.

/ \
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Among the latter, under pretence of governing they have divided their nations into two classes, wolves and sheep.”
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Edward Carrington, January 16, 1787
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