EL PASO, Tx., December 12, 2026: Rising health care insurance premium costs due to the expiration of the Affordable Care Act subsidies have left many El Pasoans facing higher health insurance. The subsidies expired on December 31. In a rare rebuke, 17 Republicans helped the House vote to extend the subsidies by three years last week.
The 17 Republicans joined Democrats to pass the healthcare benefits extension. Among the Republicans is Rep. Monica de la Cruz (R-TX-15), who is also seeking to enact legislation to provide work permits to foreign workers for the housing industry that is facing labor shortages. De la Cruz told the Texas Tribune that “rising health care costs remain a concern for many in in our South Texas communities.”
Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16) said in a press release last Thursday that “Republicans have controlled every lever of government for an entire year and instead of focusing on lowering costs for the American people, they cut life-saving programs and supported policies that life more expensive and difficult” for Americans.
Escobar has also introduced legislation to allow foreign workers in America’s construction sites.
The rising costs of health insurance has driven some Americans to take drastic action. One man in Michigan married his roommate just so that he could have access to health insurance. Americans, faced with expensive healthcare insurance are delaying divorces, job decisions and even marrying just to have access to health insurance.
According to the Episcopal Health Foundation, there are over 100,000 El Pasoans enrolled in the Affordable Health Care Act. The expired benefits help to reduce the insurance costs for El Paso by over 90%.
Texans, on average, saved around $541 in monthly healthcare premiums in 2025 using the since expired benefits.
The House legislation now waits an uncertain future at the Senate where the Republicans have shown an unwillingness to address rising healthcare costs. The subsidies were the key issue in the longest running government shutdown last year. Seven Democrats crossed party lines to end the shutdown.
Open enrollment for healthcare coverage through ACA ends on Thursday. With many Americans facing sticker shock, Senate Republicans are under pressure to pass a bipartisan deal to help alleviate the rising costs.
However, yesterday, the White House said that it may veto the legislation if it is delivered to the White House.
As of this morning, the Senate has not scheduled a vote on any subsidies.
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