Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro has sounded a sharp warning about the political fallout from looming increases in US health insurance premiums, saying the Republican Party risks losing control of the House of Representatives and undermining President Donald Trump's second term if enhanced healthcare subsidies are allowed to lapse.
Shapiro, whose show aired on Saturday, said that Trump is currently “having a tough time in the approval ratings,” which he said was driven by “concerns about affordability” primarily.
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Shapiro cited estimates that show the premiums for subsidised Affordable Care Act plans could more than double when the enhanced tax credits expire at the end of 2025. He defined such a jump - about 125% - as "gigantic," and said a GOP proposal that would trim premiums by about 11% would be nowhere near large enough to blunt the hike, per Benzinga.
Premium spike tied to expiring subsidies
Reportedly, the larger subsidies to the ACA were implemented for the first time during the COVID‑19 pandemic and have been extended for the following years to make health coverage more affordable. Their expiration is not yet reversed by Congress, without action, analysts project steep premium rises and coverage losses for millions of Americans next year. Estimates range as high as 24 million enrollees in the ACA who may face higher costs.
Shapiro argued that rising health costs are already hurting Trump's approval ratings, with affordability the key concern among voters. He told his audience Republicans face a choice: pursue a hard‑line policy that could cost the party its House majority, or seek a “pragmatic compromise” that would preserve Republican control and allow broader reform later.
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GOP struggles over healthcare strategy
Notably, the warning comes as division mounts within the Republican Party over how to handle the subsidies. The GOP‑controlled House recently passed its own healthcare bill that does not extend the pandemic‑era subsidies, drawing howls from moderate Republicans who fret the move will worsen costs for constituents and fuel political backlash ahead of the 2026 midterms.
