Affordable Care Act Subsidies Have Expired

The subsidies were a contentious issue in Congress during the government shutdown that lasted from October to mid-November.

Pages from the U.S. Affordable Care Act health insurance website healthcare.gov on a computer screen in New York on Aug. 19, 2025. AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File

Subsidies that were offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expired at the end of 2025, meaning some Americans may have to pay higher health insurance premiums.

The ACA subsidies were designed to help lower or eliminate the out-of-pocket cost of monthly premiums for people who purchase health insurance coverage through a health insurance marketplace.