There is growing momentum within the Democratic Party to find its next ObamaCare heading into the midterms, as healthcare costs become more untenable and American anger over affordability persists.
Healthcare has consistently ranked as a top issue for voters heading into this year’s midterm elections. June polling from Emerson College found that healthcare ranked in the top five issues for voters, behind the economy, threats to democracy and immigration.
The expiration of the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits dealt a heavy blow to Democrats in Congress, who carried out the longest government shutdown in history to get a vote on extending the subsidies.
In the wake of the expired tax credits, premiums jumped by more than 20 percent and ACA enrollment dropped this year after previously experiencing four consecutive years of record growth.
While the House passed a 3-year extension on the subsidies at the start of the year, efforts in the Senate have led nowhere, leaving a vacuum for parts of the Democratic coalition to submit their proposals for a successor.
