Payer executives expressed confidence in the continuation of enhanced ACA subsidies in some form past 2025.
Enhanced subsidies, which help individuals with incomes up to 400% above the federal poverty line afford coverage, will expire at the end of 2025 without Congressional action.
The subsidies have spurred record enrollment in ACA plans.
Republicans will control the presidency and both chambers of Congress in 2025, and could let the enhanced subsidies sunset, according to The New York Times.
However, on a Nov. 9 call with executives transcribed by Seeking Alpha, Oscar Health CEO Mark Bertolini said the company believes both parties have an incentive to extend the subsidies.
"We're currently at historic low in the U.S. of below 8% of uninsured," Mr. Bertolini said. "Going the other way would only confound the inflationary impacts that the current race focused around and resulted in the former President Trump being re-elected president."
Mr. Bertolini said there will likely be some changes to subsidies under a Republican Administration. More than 60% of Oscar Health's membership is in Republican-led states, he said, indicating the durability of the program across party lines.
"Ths is a product that's here to stay, and there is every intention to make sure that we don't create an inflationary pressure as a result of pulling back subsidies and pushing people out of healthcare and into uncompensated care," he said.
Other payer executives have expressed optimism a bipartisan majority will support subsidies.
On an Oct. 25 earnings call, Centene CEO Sarah London said the ACA marketplace serves a "strong bipartisan base" and is a "powerful platform to expand affordable healthcare coverage and access for individuals across the country."
Payer executives have also said they remain committed to the marketplace, whether subsidies are extended or not.
"The durability of the enhanced subsidies is absolutely something we are monitoring," Elevance Health CFO Mark Kaye said at an investor conference Nov. 12. "We are committed to growth in the ACA marketplace regardless. It's attractive. It's a complimentary business for us, and it has certainly created a promising white space for long term growth."