Democrats accuse administration of delaying window shopping for Obamacare amid subsidies dispute

Senate Democrats on Monday sent a letter accusing the Trump administration of delaying window shopping for Obamacare plans offered on the federal exchange ahead of the start of open enrollment on Saturday.

The letter comes as Senate Democrats are refusing to reopen the government, which has been shut down since Oct. 1, without an extension of enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies set to expire at the end of the year. Republicans are refusing to negotiate on the matter until the government is reopened, and said they want “reforms” to the program.

Thirty Senate Democrats wrote to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, whose agency runs the federal Obamacare exchange, healthcare.gov, asking him to immediately launch window-shopping so consumers can understand how much their premiums will increase for the 2026 plan year.

“For each of the past eight years, CMS has launched ACA window-shopping on either October 25 or October 26, providing working people with about one week to preview their health coverage options and review detailed information about available plans and pricing ahead of open enrollment,” they said. “This administration has no reason to delay giving Americans this vital information.”

The COVID-era expansion of the Obamacare subsidies capped out-of-pocket premium costs at 8% of household income. It also allowed families earning above 400% of the federal poverty level — currently $62,600 for a single individual or $128,600 for a family of four — to access the subsidies for the first time.

Americans on subsidized Obamacare plans could pay more than double for premiums in 2026 — 114% more, on average, according to nonprofit health policy research organization KFF — if the COVID enhancements expire.

“Window-shopping is more important than ever before; the 24 million people who buy insurance on the ACA Marketplace need as much time and information as possible to understand and prepare for these significant premium increases,” the Senate Democrats wrote.

The letter was led by Senate Democratic leader Charles E. Schumer of New York and Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Finance Committee with jurisdiction over the subsidies, formally known as premium tax credits.

The Democrats said millions of Americans have not received information about spiking premiums because of guidance CMS issued in July allowing insurance companies to delay sending notices to enrollees and omit premium numbers and tax credit information from those notices.

“Many insurance companies have taken advantage of this so-called flexibility, leaving their enrollees in the dark,” they said.

The Washington Times reached out to CMS for comment.

The federal exchange is where the majority of Obamacare plans are purchased.