Most Americans back extending ACA tax credits, KFF poll shows

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(Reuters) -Nearly eight in 10 Americans want Congress to renew enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits set to expire at year-end, even as lawmakers clash over federal spending, a new Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) poll said on Friday.

The findings come after an impasse between Republican President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats triggered the 15th U.S. government shutdown on Oct. 1, the latest since 1981.

After the poll, shares of UnitedHealth were higher by 3%, Humana climbed 8.8%, Elevance gained 4.6%, Centene advanced 4.4% Cigna jumped 5.6%, and CVS Health increased 1.5%.

About 78% of adults said the subsidies, which lower premiums for people buying coverage on ACA marketplaces, should be extended, compared with 22% who favor letting them lapse.

Support cuts across party lines, with 92% of Democrats, 82% of independents and 59% of Republicans – including 57% of those aligned with Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement – backing an extension.

If Congress does not act, health insurance costs would increase sharply for many of the 24 million Americans who get their coverage through the ACA, according to the nonpartisan KFF.

The impact would be most acute in Republican-controlled states that have not expanded the Medicaid health plan for the poor.

Democrats also want guardrails that would stop President Trump from unilaterally ignoring their ACA provisions or temporarily withholding funds.

“The poll was fielded just prior to the Oct. 1 federal government shutdown that was triggered in part by disagreements about whether, how and when to extend the expiring tax credits,” said the KFF.

Without action, premiums for subsidized enrollees could more than double next year, rising 114% on average to $1,904, according to KFF.

(Reporting by Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)