Former President Barack Obama is back in the spotlight this weekend, stepping onto the campaign trail to support Democratic candidates, Reps. Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill. Both are vying for governorships in Virginia and New Jersey, respectively. The former president will appear with Spanberger at an event in Norfolk before heading to Newark to rally support for Sherrill later in the day. This return highlights his enduring prominence within the Democratic Party as a well-recognized leader.
However, Obama’s re-emergence comes amid a governmental showdown tied to one of his key accomplishments: the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. This health care program is entangled in a turbulent debate as subsidies are set to expire in December, a situation that has Democrats firmly stating they won’t agree to reopen the government without extending these critical financial supports.
Since the ACA was enacted, it has provided vital subsidies via tax credits for insurance premiums based on income levels for those using the exchanges. Enhanced subsidies, put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, are part of the Inflation Reduction Act and were intended to last until the end of 2025. Now, thanks to the ongoing government impasse, the future of these subsidies is uncertain.
In a pointed address just days into the shutdown, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the potential fallout if these premium tax credits aren’t extended. He painted a stark picture: “If these ACA premium tax credits aren’t extended, the average fifty-five-year-old couple making $85,000 a year would see their premiums not just double, but triple to $25,000 a year.” Schumer added, “That is all Democrats want to fix. We are on the side of the people. The people know it and want it and need it.”
Obama previously assured Americans when he signed the ACA into law in 2010 that it would “lower costs for families and for businesses and for the federal government, reducing our deficit by over $1 trillion in the next two decades.” He confidently stated, “Ten years from now, people will look back and say, this was the right thing to do.”
Fast forward more than a decade, and the conversation has significantly shifted. Critics, particularly Republicans, argue that Obamacare has not delivered on its promises. Senator Rick Scott of Florida stated, “Look at how much this is all costing us. Obamacare was sold on a lie. The costs have skyrocketed.” He added, “Obama promised you wouldn’t lose your doctor, well, you did. You wouldn’t lose your plan, you did. You were supposed to save $2,500 a family; that was a lie.”
As it stands, around 24 million Americans currently have health insurance through the ACA. Open enrollment for 2026 kicks off on November 1, but insurers have already begun notifying members of impending premium increases. The Kaiser Family Foundation forecasts an average premium hike of 26% through the Obamacare exchanges in 2026. In state-operated exchanges, premiums are set to rise by about 17%, while states using Healthcare.gov might see increases by an alarming 30%.
The Congressional Budget Office warned that extending the expiring premium subsidies could add roughly $350 billion to the deficit through 2035. With the Washington Post reporting similar predictions for average Obamacare premiums, the pressure builds for Democrats as they seek to protect their incumbents and their achievements amidst this financial turbulence.
As Obama returns to invigorate the Democratic base, he is also faced with the monumental task of defending his legacy during a time of uncertainty and backlash against Obamacare, particularly as crucial federal agencies continue to strain under the weight of funding limitations due to the persistent government shutdown.
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