House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., from left, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Vice President JD Vance speak to members of the media outside the West Wing at the White House in Washington, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
"Republicans are fighting to make sure this happens to their own constituents," she added.
"If Congress doesn't extend ACA enhanced premium tax credits, 20 million Americans will see a dramatic rise in premium costs, and another 4 million people will lose their coverage completely," Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, posted on X.
"My Republican colleagues need to come to the table so that we can prevent this disaster," she added.
However, subsidies being used to lower costs sparks concerns about the longevity of the Obama-era policy.
Brian Blase, the president of the Paragon Health Institute and a former advisor on the White House's National Economic Council, countered a claim made in a post from Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., that "Republicans are intentionally skyrocketing your premiums."
"1. Premiums went up because of the ACA 2. Large subsidies were put in place to offset enrollees' costs. 3. During COVID, there were subsidy add-ons. Democrats scheduled them to expire after 2025. 4. The original large subsidies will still be in place," Blase explained.
"The premium increase will hit regardless of what Congress does. That is an unfortunate feature of how Obamacare is working. The question is the share that should be paid by taxpayers," he continued in another X post. "Pouring more subsidies on insurers entrenches the status quo & means higher premiums & prices."
HOUSE DEMOCRATS THREATEN SHUTDOWN FIGHT TO PROTECT OBAMACARE PERKS
Medicare healthcare card (iStock)
Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday told "Fox and Friends" that he will work with Democrats on extending insurance subsidies for Obamacare "after they’ve reopened the government."
"You can’t reward this exercise in hostage taking, which is what we would be doing if we allow the government opening to be conditional on the Democrats’ policy disagreement," Vance said.
"That premium support program doesn’t even expire until next year. So why are you shutting down the government on October 1 because of a program that doesn’t even expire for another few months," he continued. "Let’s talk about it, let’s negotiate, let’s do what you do in Washington, D.C."
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"The government shutdown has occurred because Senator Chuck Schumer is holding the funding process hostage. The continuing resolution would have allowed the government to function while we finish the appropriations process in a bipartisan way," Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., posted on Wednesday. "The longer Senator Schumer plays games, the greater the damage to national security, service members, and veterans. I urge my Democrat colleagues to adopt the House-passed bill, which would immediately reopen the government."
Cameron Arcand is a politics writer at Fox News Digital in Washington D.C. Story tips can be sent to Cameron.Arcand@Fox.com and on Twitter: @cameron_arcand
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dems-hot-seat-after-obamacares-spiking-premium-costs-torpedo-their-narrative