House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) argued Monday the end-of-year deadline to extend subsidies offered under the Affordable Care Act is an “eternity” away.

“We have effectively three months to negotiate. In the White House and in the halls of Congress, that's like an eternity,” Johnson told MSNBC’s Ali Vitali.

The subsidies, which were introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and extended through the end of this year by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, expire at the end of December. But open enrollment in most states begins on Nov. 1, and insurers could increase premiums if they anticipate the subsidies will expire.

That could lead to some consumers dropping their health care coverage, even if Congress agrees to extend the premiums after open enrollment starts.

As part of negotiations t

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