Families USA Statement on Failed Senate Vote to Extend Premium Assistance for Millions of Americans

12.11.2025 /Statement

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Anthony Wright, executive director of Families USA, issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate failed to pass a three-year extension of the enhanced premium tax credits that help millions of Americans afford their monthly health care premiums.

"Today's Senate vote to reject the extension of premium tax credits will have devastating, immediate consequences for the health and finances of families across the country, and that will reverberate throughout the health care system we all rely on.

"Just days away from the deadline for Americans to sign up for coverage that starts January 1, senators decided to let premiums double or more for 22 million Americans who rely on these premium tax credits to make coverage affordable. The millions who buy coverage as individuals now just have a few days to decide how to handle these massive premiums spikes, including whether to opt for lower-level plans with unaffordable deductibles, or to drop coverage entirely. As more people go uninsured or underinsured, they will delay necessary care, leading to worsening health conditions, and putting more burden on expensive and overcrowded emergency rooms. Letting these tax credits expire will force over four million to lose coverage, millions more to pay thousands of dollars more, and drive up costs for everyone.

"After an election on affordability, it's striking that the most high-profile votes this year by the Republican majority are to increase health care costs for working families. The current Congress cut $1 trillion from Medicaid in H.R.1 in order to extend tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, and now refuse to extend the tax credits that working families need to afford health care - despite tremendous support from Americans of all political leanings.

"In a cynical attempt to claim they were offering an alternative way to cut health costs, Senate Republicans also brought to the floor a proposal that would not have helped any patient with their premiums, even by one dollar. The alternative proposal on health savings accounts could not be used to pay premiums at all and is only offered to those who choose plans with much higher deductibles, offsetting those deductibles of $7,000 by a fraction. The so-called alternative proposal would in fact raise premiums and included all sorts of poison pills. This inadequate and counterproductive measure failed to gain the full support of their own caucus.

"The Senate may have failed to deliver, but the House of Representatives still has a chance to do the right thing. Many House members in both parties have publicly supported extending the tax credits; now is the time to step up and get it done. At Families USA, we will keep up the fight to address the health care affordability crisis, and to hold lawmakers and corporate health systems accountable for allowing health care prices to continue to spiral out of control."