Congress takes up health care again − and impatient voters shouldn’t hold their breath for a cure

Why does health care reform keep failing despite decades of attention and expanding costs? A scholar of Congress has some answers.

By: SoRelle Wyckoff Gaynor, University of Virginia, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 7, 2026

Words: 1,380

Last Updated: 2 days, 5 hours ago

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By SoRelle Wyckoff Gaynor, University of Virginia

As the bell struck midnight on Jan. 1, 2026, time ran out on Obamacare subsidies for over 24 million Americans. These subsidies, propped up through various legislative packages over the years, lowered the health insurance costs for Americans on the Obamacare exchange.

Following the expiration of these subsidies, health insurance premiums are skyrocketing for around 90% of Americans who use health insurance from the exchange. For many …

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