By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Although the U.S. House passed Republicans’ “Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act” before leaving until the new year, Illinois U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Rockford, says Congress left without a final deal that includes extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, leaving millions at risk of higher 2026 premiums.

In a social media video, Sorensen criticized the House GOP for adjourning without voting on health care legislation, calling it a nicely wrapped but empty Christmas present.

“Instead, the House GOP took an empty box, wrapped it up in pretty wrapping paper, stuck a bow on it in the hopes that … you don’t realize that on Christmas morning, nothing is in the box,” said Sorensen. “Even Congresswoman Marionette Miller-Meeks, who led the bill, said … it has the potential to lower premiums, a potential to do some good. The truth is it does nothing to open up any legislative opportunity to lower your costs.”5

According to Tax Foundation chief economist William McBride, Obamacare limits costs for low-income families, but without funding, insurance companies had to cover it themselves, raising premiums, especially for “silver plans,” a practice called “silver looting.” The new bill would fund these costs directly, which McBride says could help make insurance a bit cheaper.

“Silver looting” under Obamacare refers to insurance companies raising silver plan premiums to cover cost reductions for low-income families, effectively passing the cost onto other enrollees.

“Basically, the cost was spread across all enrollees and exchanges, which over the years has contributed to rising premiums,” McBride said. “According to [the Congressional Budget Office’s] analysis, implementing this provision in the new legislation would provide the appropriations directly to insurance companies, a more efficient approach that could reduce premiums by about 11%.”

McBride also highlighted the taxpayer benefit of the bill.

“It would reduce the cost of these premium tax credits, which are quite a lot these days. Over $100 billion a year is what these premium tax credits cost … saving roughly $30 billion over 10 years in CBO’s analysis,” he said.

McBride pointed out that certain provisions of the legislation, such as allowing consumers to purchase plans across state lines, could increase competition and lower costs over time.

“This has long been a standard Republican solution that, in theory, could create more competition,” McBride said. “Buying plans nationwide would give people more choices, especially in rural markets that are thin, with few participants, limited doctor networks, and poor selection. Allowing more competition in these areas could help a lot. If implemented in coordination with state regulations, it should also help lower costs over time.”

Sorensen criticized the House GOP’s inaction, emphasizing the human impact of stalled legislation.

“Look, Democrats and Republicans agree that we need to extend the ACA subsidies into next year,” said Sorensen. “The House GOP just threw tens of millions of Americans off their healthcare. I’m not going to give up fighting to lower the cost of living for the American people because it’s time to put politics aside and do what the people need from us.”