California leaders are sounding the alarm as nearly two million Covered California enrollees could see average premiums rise by 97% if Affordable Care Act subsidies expire. A White House plan under former President Trump was expected to propose a two-year extension with new eligibility caps but was delayed after Republican pushback. Democrats question Trump’s reliability and criticize the long-promised but undelivered GOP alternative to the ACA. Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley is promoting the bipartisan Fix It Act, which would extend subsidies and target fraud to cut spending. The issue helped trigger the recent government shutdown, which ended with a promise for a December Senate vote. Covered California says it is too early to know how rising premiums may affect enrollment.

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