By Bo Erickson, Richard Cowan and Nolan D. McCaskill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A handful of U.S. Senate Republicans are wrestling with the impending expiration of health insurance subsidies that are the primary sticking point in the government shutdown standoff that entered its 13th day on Monday.

The lawmakers have not voted in favor of a proposal put forward by Senate Democrats to extend the subsidies. However, the senators are talking with the White House and Democrats about a possible way to address the surge in health insurance costs. Some Republicans said failure to resolve the issue could become a liability in the 2026 midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress.

Small business owners, gig workers and farmers who do not get health insurance through their employers are

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