Healthcare enrollment deadline looms with no extension for ACA subsidies in sight

There is less than a week before many people here in Nebraska and Omaha have to choose their health insurance plan for next year if they use ACA marketplace.

By Sydney Babb, WOWT

(December 10, 2025)

There is less than a week before many people here in Nebraska and Omaha have to choose their health insurance plan for next year if they use the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

The problem is, with Congress deadlocked on a plan to extend subsidies, some people are facing what they call ‘drastic’ increases in their monthly payments.

“I just turned 60, and my husband is 55,” said Audrey Horn, who was born and raised in Omaha. She’s retired, and her husband’s company doesn’t offer health insurance.

They found a plan through the Affordable Care Act was best for them.

“It was a good plan and it was affordable for us to sign up for that, and that was one of the reasons I was able to retire, is because I knew we would have insurance,” she said.

And with her husband’s preexisting medical conditions, having health insurance is a must.

“We’re just, you know, a middle-class, regular family. The problem though, for 2026, is our premiums spiked exponentially,” Audrey explained. “The same bronze plan that we were on went up $688 a month.”

And this problem could impact 22 million Americans who also receive enhanced subsidies that lower the cost of their ACA insurance.

“A lot of families are seeing double, triple, quadruple what they were paying last year because everything is uncertain,” said State Director of local advocacy group, Nebraska For Us.

She says with Congress deadlocked and time running out for Americans to pick a plan.. people may have tough choices.

“A lot of families have to make decisions right now, whether they are going to sign on for an autopay that comes out of their account that is thousands of dollars more a month than what they’re used to,” said Angie.

While Audrey says they have to choose a plan for her husband’s health, she worries some people will choose no insurance at all for themselves and their families, knowing they can’t afford an increase.

“We just need a little help. We’re not asking for a free ride. I don’t know how you can expect a regular middle-class couple to pay $2,433.27 a month just for the premium. That is our premium, just for two people,” Audrey said.

Democrats plan to force a vote this week on a bill to extend those tax credits but it is lacking Republican support.

There are other potential bills, but legislation surrounding ACA isn’t expected to pass until next year, despite the deadline to apply for insurance plans being on Monday.