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Wow! Democrats want to restore the temporary subsidies for healthcare under ACA put into place during Covid. Democrats want to subsidize people who make more than 3X the average US yearly income. Data from early 2024 showed that 93% of the nearly 21 million marketplace enrollees received premium subsidies. The average middle class household income is $60,000. Who are democrats trying to help?
Democrat Senator Jeanne Shaheen who represents New Hampshire says the majority of subsidies goes to people earning less than $200,000 a year. The benchmark of $200,000 marks the amount earned by the top 15% of households in America.
When put into place during the Covid Pandemic, the temporary enhancements removed the previous qualifying mark of 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL of $32,150) for a family of four, cap for subsidies. The new rules capped premium costs at 8.5% of household income for benchmark plans. This allowed subsidies for higher earners: While the enhancements opened up subsidies to higher-income individuals, the amount of the subsidy is determined by a sliding scale based on income. Higher earners receive a subsidy if the benchmark plan costs more than 8.5% of their income.
To be in the top 10% of household income in the U.S. in 2025, a household needs an annual income of approximately $234,769 to $250,000, though some estimates are slightly lower at around $150,000. The top 20% of households in the U.S. earn $169,000 or above. The top 25% earn $120.000 and above. The exact figure depends on the source and the specific data year, based on the US Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2025, 41.9% of households earn over $100,000.
In addition despite the claims of democrats this funding would also go to illegal immigrants through the current law that requires hospital emergency rooms to treat any person who presents themselves for care at the emergency room. That person must be stabilized before being dismissed. Hospitals are allowed to bill costs of this care to the federal government. In addition many states allow illegal immigrants to assess state medicaid which is funded by matching funds through the federal medicaid program.
So who should qualify for these subsidies and how much income should a family be allowed to qualify for the subsidies? Without the increase of people in higher income brackets and illegals who in many cases are allowed to access ACA through state medicaid and hospital emergency care the additional subsidies would not be needed to fund the program. This is a case of democrats continued practice of bloated spending for a program poorly managed.
Democrat Senator Jeanne Shaheen who represents New Hampshire says the majority of subsidies goes to people earning less than $200,000 a year. The benchmark of $200,000 marks the amount earned by the top 15% of households in America.
When put into place during the Covid Pandemic, the temporary enhancements removed the previous qualifying mark of 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL of $32,150) for a family of four, cap for subsidies. The new rules capped premium costs at 8.5% of household income for benchmark plans. This allowed subsidies for higher earners: While the enhancements opened up subsidies to higher-income individuals, the amount of the subsidy is determined by a sliding scale based on income. Higher earners receive a subsidy if the benchmark plan costs more than 8.5% of their income.
To be in the top 10% of household income in the U.S. in 2025, a household needs an annual income of approximately $234,769 to $250,000, though some estimates are slightly lower at around $150,000. The top 20% of households in the U.S. earn $169,000 or above. The top 25% earn $120.000 and above. The exact figure depends on the source and the specific data year, based on the US Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2025, 41.9% of households earn over $100,000.
In addition despite the claims of democrats this funding would also go to illegal immigrants through the current law that requires hospital emergency rooms to treat any person who presents themselves for care at the emergency room. That person must be stabilized before being dismissed. Hospitals are allowed to bill costs of this care to the federal government. In addition many states allow illegal immigrants to assess state medicaid which is funded by matching funds through the federal medicaid program.
So who should qualify for these subsidies and how much income should a family be allowed to qualify for the subsidies? Without the increase of people in higher income brackets and illegals who in many cases are allowed to access ACA through state medicaid and hospital emergency care the additional subsidies would not be needed to fund the program. This is a case of democrats continued practice of bloated spending for a program poorly managed.
