Support for extending enhanced ACA tax credits remains high, KFF finds

As the government shutdown continues, public support remains high for extending the enhanced ACA tax credits set to expire at the end of the year, with three quarters (74%) of the public in favor of extending them, a new KFF Health Tracking Poll finds.

The expiring tax credits are a central issue in the ongoing Congressional budget standoff, as Democrats want the tax credits extended as part of a budget deal while Republicans want to reopen the government before negotiating over an extension. Without the enhanced tax credits, ACA Marketplace enrollees who benefit from them would on average have to pay more than twice as much out of pocket in premiums next year.

The new poll finds little change in the public’s views on extending the tax credits since before the shutdown began, though support among Republicans dipped (from 59% in September to 50% now). Among those who identify as supporters of President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement, support fell from 57% in September to 44% now.

When asked about Congressional Democrats’ strategy of refusing to approve a budget unless it includes extending these tax credits, even if it means the government remains shut down, partisans firmly align with their party’s position.

Overall, about half (48%) are supportive of Congressional Democrats’ position, including 81% of Democrats. Similarly, half (50%) say they should approve a budget without an extension of the tax credits to quickly end the shutdown, even if it means the cost of health insurance will increase for some people, including 84% of Republicans. Independents are split (51% in favor of Congressional Democrats’ position; 47% favoring a quick end to the shutdown).

More than half (55%) of those who purchase their own health insurance, most of whom do so through ACA marketplaces, say Democrats should refuse to approve a budget that does not include an extension for ACA subsidies.

Looking ahead to next year’s midterm elections, the poll includes some early signs that voters give the Democratic Party an advantage on issues related to health care costs.

When asked which party they trust to do a better job on the future of the ACA, larger share of voters say that they trust the Democratic Party (43%) than the Republican Party (32%).

Similarly, when asked about addressing the high cost of health insurance, more voters also say they trust the Democratic Party (39%) than the Republican Party (33%) to do a better job. While independents are more likely to trust Democrats than Republicans on the future of the ACA, they are split when it comes to trust to address the cost of health coverage.

Other findings include:

• Among those who want the tax credits extended, most say that either Congressional Republicans (38%) or President Trump (37%) would deserve most of the blame if they weren’t extended. Fewer say Congressional Democrats (23%) would deserve most of the blame.
• About half (47%) of the public correctly says that undocumented immigrants are not eligible to buy ACA marketplace coverage. About one in seven (14%) incorrectly say that they are eligible to buy marketplace coverage, while the rest are not certain. Similar shares of Republicans and Democrats know the correct answer.

Designed and analyzed by public opinion researchers at KFF, this survey was conducted October 27-November 2, 2025, online and by telephone among a nationally representative sample of 1,350 U.S. adults in English and in Spanish. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for the full sample. For results based on other subgroups, the margin of sampling error may be higher.