Congress Leaves for Holiday Break Without Extending ACA Subsidies

On Wednesday, four Republicans – Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Mike Lawler (NY), Rob Bresnahan (PA) and Ryan Mackenzie (PA) – defied GOP leadership and signed onto a Democratic discharge petition that will force a vote in the U.S. House on a bill to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years.

Now that the discharge petition has enough signatures, the vote on ACA tax credits will most likely take place in January. But House Speaker Mike Johnson (LA) has not discussed a specific timeline.

The U.S. Senate also failed to pass legislation to extend the subsidies last week, rejecting two separate bills – one Democratic proposal and one Republican proposal.

22 million Americans who purchase health insurance through ACA exchanges will see their premiums spike starting January 1, skyrocketing from an average of $888 this year to $1,904 in 2026.

“While we’re optimistic to hear that there might finally be some movement on this issue in January, it’s devastating to know that millions of Americans will still see huge premium increases in two weeks,” said Robert Roach, Jr., President of the Alliance. “We implore Speaker Johnson and other Republican leaders to get this measure on the floor for a vote as soon as possible.”

Americans Worry About Future of Social Security, Brace for Higher Costs Next Year

Seniors are worried about struggling to pay their expenses amid rising healthcare costs that will continue to surge next year.

The Social Security Administration announced a 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security next year, which will provide about $52 more per month for the average retired worker. But most seniors will have to put that extra money toward paying their Medicare Part B premium, which will increase to $202.90 a month.

Americans aged 65 and older will be able to deduct an additional $6,000 on their income taxes next year because of a provision in the Republican tax law passed this summer. This will primarily benefit seniors whose total income is between $50,000 and $200,000, but many low and middle-income beneficiaries will likely see no change at all. Whether or not someone’s tax bill goes down will depend on their combined income from Social Security, pensions, retirement accounts, investments, and work. The provision is also temporary – it will only be an option until 2028.

According to new polling data from Gallup and West Health, Americans are concerned about the future of Social Security and Medicare.

58 percent of Americans polled said they are more worried about Medicare now than they were a year ago, while 61 percent said they were more worried about Social Security now than compared to a year ago.

“Thanks to the Administration’s attacks on Social Security, seniors are ending this year on a fearful note. But it doesn’t have to be this way,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance. “If the wealthiest Americans paid their fair share into the system, we could actually afford to increase benefits. Next year, lawmakers should make strengthening Social Security a top priority.”

New Research Indicates Shingles Vaccine Lowers Risk of Dementia

A new study finds a positive correlation between the shingles vaccine and a reduced risk for dementia. Shingles affects one in three Americans, and older adults are both at higher risk of developing the disease and experiencing complications. Thus, doctors recommend that all adults receive the two-dose vaccination.

The findings come as researchers seek to discover not only the preventative properties of the vaccine, but possible therapeutic properties as well. In a study that compared patients over the age of 80 who were not eligible to receive the shingles vaccine versus patients who were 79 years of age and vaccinated, the results showed that those who had received the vaccine had an approximate three percent reduction in dementia risk.

Research is ongoing, and doctors have yet to make any conclusive findings, but they have theories as to the reasoning behind the possible correlation. First, the vaccine provides protection against inflammation in the body. Second, the vaccine promotes an overall healthier immune system.

“We welcome these promising research results and encourage seniors to work with their physicians to receive the shingles vaccine if they haven’t already,” said Joseph Peters, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “Medicare beneficiaries can get the vaccine for free thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act.”

KFF Health News: One Big Beautiful Bill Act Complicates State Health Care Affordability Efforts
By Bernard J. Wolfson

As Congress debates whether to extend the temporary federal subsidies that have helped millions of Americans buy health coverage, a crucial underlying reality is sometimes overlooked: Those subsidies are merely a band-aid covering the often unaffordable cost of health care.

California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and five other states have set caps on health care spending in a bid to rein in the intense financial pressure felt by many families, individuals, and employers who every year face increases in premiums, deductibles, and other health-related expenses.

Hospitals and other health care providers are citing Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President Donald Trump in July, as one more reason to challenge those limits.

The law is expected to reduce federal Medicaid spending by more than $900 billion over a decade, which mathematically should help the overall health care system meet the caps. But the law is also expected to increase the number of uninsured Americans, mostly Medicaid beneficiaries, by an estimated 10 million people. Health care analysts predict hospitals and other providers will raise prices to cover the double whammy of lost Medicaid revenue and the cost of caring for an influx of newly uninsured patients.