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Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
@centeronbudget.bsky.social
A nonpartisan research and policy institute that advances federal and state policies to help build a nation where everyone has the resources they need to thrive and share in the nation’s prosperity.
Reposted by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
New HHS data on ACA marketplace enrollment for 2026 so far suggest a similar number of ppl have selected a plan compared to last year even as they see higher premium costs that reflect expiration of PTC enhancements. But don't make too much if it.
Marketplace 2026 Open Enrollment Period Report: National Snapshot | CMS
Marketplace 2026 Open Enrollment Period Report: National Snapshot
www.cms.gov
December 5, 2025 at 10:17 PM
December 5, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Reposted by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
As new proposals addressing expiring PTC enhancements emerge, it's important to be clear about what makes a strong (or not so strong) proposal.

My colleague @jenniferlsullivan.bsky.social lays out key guidelines for evaluating these proposals.
Proposals to address expiring PTC enhancements should be evaluated based on the extent to which they:

1. avoid making more people uninsured;

2. ensure people keep access to affordable, comprehensive coverage; and

3. can take effect quickly.

More here: www.cbpp.org/blog/how-to-...
How to Evaluate Proposals to Address Expiring Premium Tax Credit Enhancements
With just weeks to go until the premium tax credit (PTC) enhancements expire — which would increase Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace enrollees’ annual premiums by more than $1,000 on average...
www.cbpp.org
December 4, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Reposted by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
States' administrative funding isn't the only thing at stake here. USDA is trying to amass the highly sensitive personal information of tens of millions of low-income people in a centralized database described by one former USDA official as "a prime target for malicious actors."
The Trump administration plans to block Democratic-controlled states from accessing billions of dollars they need to run their food stamp programs unless governors turn over benefits rolls to federal officials.
Trump administration will block SNAP management funds for blue states
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said officials won’t send money to administer food stamps to states that don’t share information about benefits recipients with the federal government.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Reposted by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Proposals to address expiring PTC enhancements should be evaluated based on the extent to which they:

1. avoid making more people uninsured;

2. ensure people keep access to affordable, comprehensive coverage; and

3. can take effect quickly.

More here: www.cbpp.org/blog/how-to-...
How to Evaluate Proposals to Address Expiring Premium Tax Credit Enhancements
With just weeks to go until the premium tax credit (PTC) enhancements expire — which would increase Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace enrollees’ annual premiums by more than $1,000 on average...
www.cbpp.org
December 4, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Reposted by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Instead of a clean extension of PTC enhancements (which makes silver plans more affordable), some Republicans have proposed encouraging people to buy down to less generous bronze plans.

Don’t be fooled: While bronze plans often have lower premiums, people face much higher costs when they get care.
December 2, 2025 at 8:52 PM
More than 4 in 10 Supplemental Security Income youth lose their benefits when they turn 18. Policymakers should provide more work supports and incentives, and improve access to economic security programs beyond SSI: www.cbpp.org/research/soc...
Low-Income Disabled Youth Face Significant Challenges Upon Coming of Age
More than 4 in 10 SSI youth lose their benefits when they turn 18 because they have not demonstrated that they meet SSI’s stringent adult definition of disability, even if they continue to have health...
www.cbpp.org
December 2, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Reposted by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
ACA marketplace plans w/ $0 premiums help ppl get & stay covered. Recent Republican proposals would require minimum premiums or fail to extend premium tax credit enhancements based on the false claim that ppl who don’t use medical care are “phantom enrollees.” 🧵https://tinyurl.com/4uc68zbf
People With Low Incomes May Lose $0 Premium Plans — a Lifeline — Unless Congress Acts
Without congressional action, PTC enhancements will expire at the end of 2025. This will cause millions —many of these lowest-income enrollees especially — to become uninsured, or to face impossible c...
tinyurl.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Reposted by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
This week, the House may consider a bill to rename Social Security's retirement claim ages, which could help retirees make more informed choices.

Social Security's benefit formula is confusing, and any move toward transparency is a step in the right direction.

smucker.house.gov/media/press-...
Smucker’s Legislation Advances with Strong Bipartisan Support in Ways and Means Committee
WASHINGTON—Legislation introduced by Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) has received approval in the House Ways and Means Committee and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
smucker.house.gov
December 1, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Reposted by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Social Security has announced yet another reorganization. The devil will be in the details.

But the fact remains: Even after the reshuffling is complete, SSA will have thousands fewer and less experienced staff because of the deep cuts the Trump Admin made this year.

www.cbpp.org/research/soc...
Reassignment Won’t Fix the Largest-Ever Social Security Staffing Cut
The Social Security Administration will have fewer and less experienced staff on the front lines serving the public with significantly less support, leading to worse outcomes for people who rely on So...
www.cbpp.org
November 25, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Reposted by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Now that the gov is reopened, appropriators should not only provide Social Security with adequate customer service funding, but also include enforceable measures to reverse deep staff cuts, lift service restrictions, improve transparency & secure our sensitive data.

www.cbpp.org/research/soc...
Congress Needs to Address the Trump Administration Turmoil at the Social Security Administration
Years of underfunding have forced the Social Security Administration (SSA) to serve the growing number of beneficiaries with fewer staff, creating customer service woes that the Trump Administration h...
www.cbpp.org
November 25, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Reposted by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Reports that the White House is working on a proposal to extend premium tax credit enhancements shows the Administration is acknowledging the urgent need to address premium spikes for millions of marketplace enrollees. But big questions remain.🧵
November 24, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Reposted by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Some recent Republican responses to the marketplace premium tax credit issue would shift more people to bronze plans with Health Savings Accounts as an alternative to silver plans with PTC enhancements and cost sharing reductions. So how do these plans stack up in real terms?
November 24, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Reposted by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
The GAO released a report last week on health savings accounts (HSAs) reaffirming that HSAs do little to help people with low and moderate incomes – who would be hurt the most if Congress lets premium tax credit enhancements expire.
GAO-25-107480, HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS: Information on Features and Use, and Characteristics of Account Holders
files.gao.gov
November 24, 2025 at 8:42 PM
The Trump Admin’s move to rescind the Biden-era public charge rule will cause fear and confusion among immigrants and their families, leading many to forgo needed health care, food, or other support out of concern it could affect their immigration status. www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
Trump Administration’s Move to Rescind Public Charge Rule Will Cause Fear, Confusion for Immigrants
November 19, 2025: The Trump Administration has moved to rescind the Biden Administration’s public charge rule, reigniting fear and confusion among people who are immigrants and their families. The pr...
www.cbpp.org
November 24, 2025 at 8:36 PM
November 21, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Tribal citizens who rely on #Medicaid for care at Indian Health Service and tribal facilities will be harmed if states respond to new funding pressures from the Republican megabill by cutting payments or services — cuts that wouldn’t save states any money. www.cbpp.org/blog/states-...
States Should Protect Medicaid Funding in Indian Country
Everyone should be able to see a doctor when they are sick, afford their prescriptions, and get the preventative care their family needs. For tribal citizens — people who are members of federally...
www.cbpp.org
November 21, 2025 at 4:28 PM
CBPP Chief Economist @gbenga-ajilore.bsky.social provides analysis on the September jobs report, and details what's at stake when economic data is delayed.
youtube.com/shorts/XeTRz...
The September Jobs Report Is Out. But What Happens When Data Is Delayed?
YouTube video by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Reposted by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Here they go again: Republicans in Congress are reviving the ACA repeal debate. After enacting unprecedented cuts to Medicaid, they are looking for ways to eliminate federal premium tax credits that some help about 20M people afford marketplace plans.
November 20, 2025 at 10:16 PM
ACA marketplace is open for enrollment. Double-check your info, compare plans before December 15, and respond to marketplace notices, so your coverage stays up to date.
November 20, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Reposted by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
The Trump Administration is abandoning plans for the biggest-ever cut to Social Security Disability Insurance, which would have hit older workers hardest.

The rule would have devastated up to 1.5 million workers' financial stability, retirement security & access to health care.

wapo.st/4o48J24
Social Security scraps plan to limit disability benefits after uproar
The policy would have fundamentally altered who qualifies for the two federal disability programs by eliminating or limiting a person’s age as a factor to consider.
wapo.st
November 19, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Reposted by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Today, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on rising health care costs. But the real, urgent focus should be that 20 million people would face higher premium costs if the PTC enhancements expire at the end of the year.

Here’s how real people will are affected.
November 19, 2025 at 9:05 PM
People who rely on #SNAP to afford groceries face new hardships as the Trump Administration cuts and withholds food assistance. @tyjonescox.bsky.social writes on how these actions put the Administration on the wrong side of history. www.cbpp.org/research/foo...
Taking Away Food Assistance Puts the Trump Administration on the Wrong Side of History
The Trump Administration became so determined to deny people their SNAP benefits that it fought all the way to the Supreme Court, even though the funds were available and it had the legal authority to...
www.cbpp.org
November 19, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Reposted by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
After enacting the deepest #SNAP cuts in history & needlessly disrupting benefits during the shutdown, the Trump Administration is quietly advancing draft regulations to take SNAP away from millions more people – primarily working families with kids, seniors & disabled people.
November 19, 2025 at 7:45 PM
By delaying or even denying disaster aid & gutting hazard mitigation programs, the Trump Administration has weakened preparation and response efforts, leaving climate-impacted communities—including people with low incomes & people of color—at greater risk. www.cbpp.org/blog/trump-a...
Trump Administration Actions Weakening Disaster Preparation and Response
Climate change is causing storms, wildfires, droughts, and floods to become more frequent and severe, and these hazards are the leading contributor to rising disaster costs across the country. The...
www.cbpp.org
November 19, 2025 at 5:52 PM