(NEXSTAR) – Lawmakers failed to reach an agreement to fund the federal government by midnight on Tuesday night, triggering a shutdown on Wednesday. At the heart of the deadlock are health insurance subsidies.

Here's what to know about the key sticking points in the budget negotiations.

What are the tax credits lawmakers disagree on?

At issue are tax credits that have made health insurance more affordable for millions of people since the COVID-19 pandemic. The subsidies, which go to low- and middle-income people who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, are slated to expire at the end of the year if Congress doesn't extend them.

Their expiration would more than double what subsidized enrollees currently pay for premiums next year, according to an analysis by KFF, a

See Full Page