Senate Democrats Demand Bipartisan Action to Extend Affordable Care Act Tax Credits

U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) has delivered a speech on the Senate floor, urging congressional Republicans to work with Democrats to extend the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits. The credits, which allow tens of millions of Americans to afford their health insurance premiums, are set to expire at the end of the year. If they do, more than four million Americans will lose their health care coverage, including over 140,000 people in Illinois.

Key Takeaways:

The expiration of enhanced premium tax credits will impact 24 million people across the United States, with 60% of those relying on the credits living in Republican-led Congressional districts.
The average monthly health insurance premium in Cook County, Illinois, will increase from $226 to $441, a 95% hike, due to the expiration of tax credits.
The increase will be felt nationwide, with 53,000 people in South Dakota, for instance, facing a significant increase in premiums.
Congressional Republicans have refused to negotiate with Democrats to extend the tax credits, instead choosing to shut down the federal government.
Republicans have been trying to overturn the ACA for years, despite having no plan for its replacement, with then-candidate Donald Trump stating he had "concepts of a plan" in September 2024, but none have been revealed.
Senate Democrats are calling for bipartisan negotiations on ending the government shutdown and extending the enhanced premium tax credits.

Statistics:

24 million people will face increased health insurance premiums as a result of the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits.
60% of people relying on the enhanced tax credits live in Republican-led Congressional districts.
53,000 people in South Dakota are covered by the ACA's enhanced premium tax credits and will face increased premiums.
140,000 people in Illinois will lose their health care coverage if the tax credits expire.
The average monthly health insurance premium in Cook County, Illinois, will increase from $226 to $441, a 95% hike.
4 million Americans will lose their health care coverage if the tax credits expire.

Sources:

The speech of U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) on the Senate floor, October 29, 2025.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Sources:

https://www.dickdurbin.org/press-release/durbin-speaks-out-against-government-shutdown-says-republicans-must-work-with-democrats-to-extend-aca-tax-credits