Díaz-Balart Raises Concerns Over Democrats’ ACA Subsidy Extension as Irresponsible

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Delegation, issued the following statement expressing concern following the Democrats' efforts to bring forward an irresponsible and costly extension of the COVID-era Obamacare subsidy program without proper guardrails.

"Americans deserve affordable health care, but extending a Democrat-led three-year COVID-era Obamacare subsidy program with zero guardrails will not make healthcare more affordable; it will make it costlier.

This approach amounts to a temporary band-aid that ignores the underlying problems in the system. The subsidies will expire again in three years, fraud will continue unchecked, and taxpayers will be left footing the bill, about $80.5 billion over the next ten years.

The COVID-era subsidies created significant opportunities for massive waste, fraud, and abuse. A GAO reportfound that 58,000 enrollees matched Social Security death records, with 7,000 of them reported dead before enrollment began. In other words, that equates to $94 million in taxpayer money sent to health insurers on behalf of deceased people. Additionally, some 6.4 millionenrollees were improperly enrolled in 2025, costing $27 billion this year alone. This is just one of numerous examples of wasteful spending.

Americans deserve real reforms that lower costs, expand choices, and allow families to see the doctors they choose at a price they can afford. I remain committed to working with my colleagues in delivering real, responsible, lasting solutions."

Last December, Díaz-Balart voted for the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act.

Here's What the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans ActDoes:

• Lowers monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs for everyone by 11%
• It keeps insurance premiums from spiking and helps lower deductibles and copays by implementing cost-sharing reduction payments
• Why it matters: Without this, insurers pass the costs directly to you, the taxpayer, by increasing premiums

• Exposes hidden costs from prescription drug middlemen
• It forces drug middlemen to be honest about where your money is going.
• What's the problem now? Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) negotiate drug prices behind closed doors and keep rebates for themselves - often raising prices for patients and employers. They buy the drug at the real price, sell it at a higher price, and keep the difference.
• What this bill does:
• Requires PBMs to show employers exactly how much drugs cost
• Shows where rebates or reimbursements go
• Exposes hidden markups
• Why it matters? More transparency = lower drug prices and lower premiums

• Helps small businesses and self-employed/independent workers to get cheaper insurance
• It lets small businesses and self-employed workers band together to buy insurance like big companies do.
• Why that helps: Big companies get cheaper rates because they buy insurance in bulk.
• This bill lets small businesses, gig workers, and independent contractors do the same thing. Gig workers are most affected by expiration (Uber drivers, photographers, etc.)
• Result: more affordable plans, more doctors to choose from, better coverage.

• Lets Americans choose the health plan that works best for them
• Instead of your boss picking one plan, you get the money and choose your own plan.
• How it works:
• Employers give workers tax-free money
• Workers use it to buy the plan they want
• You can keep your plan if you change jobs
• Why it matters: more freedom, more control, and coverage that fits your life - not your employer's.

• Protects small businesses from excessive red tape
• It stops unnecessary regulations that drive up costs for small businesses
• What that means:
• Small businesses can protect themselves from massive medical claims
• They can offer health benefits without drowning in paperwork
• Insurance stays affordable instead of being regulated out of reach
• Why it matters:
• When small businesses can afford coverage, more workers get insured, and small businesses can compete

###