When senators voted on rival health bills Thursday, they had two chances to address expiring COVID-era subsidies that will result in millions of Americans saddled with higher insurance costs in the new year.

But the Senate rejected both, and hopes of solving the problem this year are running dry. Affordable Care Act subsidies will end in three weeks, more than doubling the premiums for many with health coverage through the 2010 law known as “Obamacare.”

The Associated Press journalist Ali Swenson explains what this could mean to American ACA enrollees.

“These are temporary subsidies that most Affordable Care Act enrollees use to pay their monthly premiums. But the subsidies are expiring at the end of 2025," said Swenson. "That's going to double the average subsidized enrollees' monthly fees, according to one analysis."

"Now, with three weeks to go until next year, lawmakers are scrambling to get something done on an issue that they know will be politically sensitive in next year's midterms," added Swenson.

More than 24 million people have health insurance through the ACA. That includes farmers, ranchers, small-business owners and other self-employed people without other health insurance options through their work.