‘It’s going to crush a lot of people’: Spike says expiring ACA subsidies will hike premiums for everyone
Jan 4, 2026, 5:00 AM
As the Affordable Care Act subsidies are set to expire, more than 20 million Americans are projected to see their insurance premiums more than double, with an average increase of 114%, according to KFF.
Spike O’Neill, co-host of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, explained how the expiring subsidies will not only affect Affordable Care Act participants but eventually shift toward taxpayers.
“That’s the way insurance works, as one group takes on more risk, premiums rise for all groups to help that risk spread across the entirety of the insurance platform,” Spike said. “Even if you’re not on Obamacare, we can all look forward to our insurance premiums going up in the very near future because of the lack of federal subsidies with regard to our health insurance.
“Listen, you folks who are opposed to extending these subsidies, I understand, it doesn’t help ease the incredible cost of health care coverage in this country. It doesn’t address the issues of insurance companies making record profits on us as a population that needs health coverage,” Spike continued. “Eliminating these federal subsidies doesn’t do anything to ease the cost of insurance or health care. It just places that burden squarely on the taxpayer. It’s going to crush a lot of people.”
Watch the full discussion in the video above.
Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.
