Backfilling federal cuts

Millions of Americans who rely on the Affordable Care Act for health insurance are bracing for skyrocketing premiums in 2026 after a federal government shutdown ended without a deal to extend federal premium supports.

But New Mexicans with insurance through the ACA could be in large part spared — at least until June — from those soaring costs because the state is spending millions of its own money to backfill the subsidies. The Legislature during its regular session early this year and in an October special session allocated around $40 million to fill in for the lapsing subsidies in the first half of next year, officially called Enhanced Premium Tax Credits.

"That responsible saving and planning that was done to establish the Health Care Affordability Fund allow

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