Pay twice as much for health insurance? That’s the prospect some Washington residents face

Pay twice as much for health insurance? That’s the prospect some Washington residents face Ruby de Luna October 09, 2025 / 12:53 pm

A clash over health care tax credits is at the center of the ongoing federal shutdown. Democrats want those subsidies extended. But many Republicans want to let them expire. That leaves thousands of Washington residents who rely on the subsidies to pay for health insurance with tough choices: pay the new rate, purchase catastrophic coverage, or forgo health insurance altogether.

F or most of her career Maya Tussing has worked at large investment firms that usually offered generous health plans.

“It’s like being in a candy store,” said Tussing. “You get to pick almost every type of plan, if you want a PPO, or HMO, and any type of deductible you want.