KFF Poll: 78% Back Extending ACA Credits

Hospitals, healthcare advocates and state officials across multiple states are urging Congress to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits (EPTCs) set to expire at year’s end, warning a lapse would sharply raise costs and force coverage losses. A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll found 78% of Americans support extending the credits — including 92% of Democrats, 59% of Republicans and 57% of MAGA supporters — and KFF analysis says average monthly Marketplace premiums would more than double from $888 to $1,904 (a 114% increase) without the subsidies. State and local health systems say expiration would spur surges in uncompensated care and threaten rural hospital viability; Kansas hospitals estimate roughly a 77% average premium increase for current recipients and large annual cost spikes for families and older couples. Disputes over the expiring credits became a central point in recent spending negotiations and contributed to this week’s federal government shutdown, with Democrats urging a bipartisan fix and many Republicans disputing the urgency. Local reporting and fact-checkers have largely validated warnings of significant premium hikes, prompting calls from lawmakers for cross-aisle action to prevent widespread coverage loss.