WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans can start signing up Friday for health care coverage offered through the Affordable Care Act marketplace for 2025, days before a presidential election that could threaten eligibility and raise costs for millions of those in the program.
The future of ‘Obamacare’ has emerged as a key issue in the closing days of the presidential campaign, with a top GOP leader promising this week to overhaul the program should Republican Donald Trump win the presidency.
Billions of dollars in tax credits are also at stake. Established during the COVID-19 pandemic, the money has expanded eligibility for millions of Americans, made health insurance coverage more affordable for many and dramatically boosted enrollment.
Nearly all of the 21 million people in the program have benefited from those subsidies, which expire next year, the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in an interview with The Associated Press.
“Americans can actually look at health care not as a privilege, but now as a right,” said Becerra, who is going to the political swing state of Arizona on Friday to mark the beginning of open enrollment. “I don't think anyone wants to have a right yanked away from them to have affordable health insurance coverage.”
But significant changes to the program are almost certain if Trump wins the White House and Republicans take control of Congress in Tuesday's contentious elections. They are threatening to scale back “Obamacare,” a signature achievement of former President Barack Obama, a Democrat.
On Monday, a key Trump ally, House Speaker Mike Johnson, declared “No Obamacare” during a Pennsylvania campaign stop, promising “massive reform” under a Trump presidency with a Republican-controlled Congress.
“Health care reform’s going to be a big part of the agenda,” Johnson said in a video first obtained by NBC News.
Johnson’s office later issued a statement saying that he had no plans to completely repeal the landmark legislation, but the comments still underscored how Johnson is working closely with Trump to potentially remake the federal government and its social programs if Republicans sweep into power.
Trump has only said that he has “concepts of a plan” to change the Affordable Care Act, which he was unable to successfully scuttle altogether during his previous term in office. In recent months, Republicans have raised concerns about spending and fraud.
Enrollment under the Biden administration surged, after years of declines during the Trump administration, dropping to a low of 11 million on Trump's watch. But taxpayers have had to pour billions of dollars more into the Affordable Care Act to achieve that increase. That money has helped pay for subsidies to cut premiums by nearly half for many of those enrolled in the program.
Congress would need to pass a new law to continue offering those subsidies, which could cost as much as $335 billion over the next decade. Some Republicans have already balked at that figure.
Democrats have cautioned voters that Republicans will try to revive an attempt to kill the Affordable Care Act altogether, with the warnings growing more dire as Election Day nears.
In Wisconsin, Vice President Kamala Harris issued the warning again, telling reporters that Johnson's remarks prove Republicans plan to gut the health care coverage. “ It has been a part of Donald Trump’s agenda for a very long time," Harris said. “He has made dozens of attempts to get rid of the Affordable Care Act. And now we have further validation of that agenda from his supporter, the speaker of the House.”
The Biden administration has expanded the program in other ways that Harris is likely to continue, but Trump is sure to pull back on. For example, the administration poured more money into hiring health insurance navigators who help enroll people into coverage.
The White House also implemented a new rule that expands eligibility for the program to immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. About 100,000 of those immigrants, also called “Dreamers” are expected to sign up for the coverage for the first time during enrollment this year.
Republican attorneys general in 15 states have sued to block their enrollment.
Open enrollment for the coverage ends on Jan. 15, but to have coverage in the new year you must enroll by Dec. 15.
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AP reporters Lisa Mascaro and Stephen Groves contributed to this story.
FILE - House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., speaks at a campaign rally, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
FILE - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra speaks in Sacramento, Calif., Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rowdy crowds took to the streets of Los Angeles after the Dodgers won the World Series, setting a city bus on fire, breaking into stores and lighting off fireworks. A dozen arrests were reported by police Thursday, but officials emphasized that most fans celebrated peacefully.
Video showed revelers throwing objects at police in downtown LA as sirens blared and officers told them to leave the area late Wednesday after the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in Game 5 in New York.
Other video showed someone standing atop a bus waving a Dodgers banner and people running from a boarded-up Nike store with armfuls of sneakers before throwing the merchandise into cars parked outside. No injuries were reported.
Despite some unrest, “the overwhelming majority of celebrations last night were joyful and peaceful,” Mayor Karen Bass said at a Thursday news conference discussing the logistics of Friday's planned victory parade.
“We will work to keep Angelenos safe as always,” Bass said, emphasizing that “violence of any kind will not be tolerated.”
The mayor, who wore a Dodgers jersey with her name on the back, noted that the parade will be held on what would've been Fernando Valenzuela 's 64th birthday. The beloved Dodgers pitcher died last week.
Bass said she will be sending a Dodgers jersey to New York Mayor Eric Adams to wear at his City Hall “because he has lost the bet.”
Officials said the Los Angeles Police Department will be on high alert throughout the week to protect communities and businesses in the city, which has been the site of previous unrest after championship wins by both the Lakers and the Dodgers.
There were some “unruly, and at times violent and hostile celebrations” after Wednesday's win, with several acts of vandalism, including the burning of a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus, LAPD spokesperson Officer Drake Madison said in an email.
Arrests were on charges such as failure to disperse, receiving stolen property or commercial burglary, Madison said. There were also several instances of street takeovers downtown and police used less-lethal munitions to control several hostile and violent crowds, Madison said. In the coming days, detectives will attempt to identify those responsible for crimes, he said.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said his deputies will be on full alert for various events, including the celebrations of the Dodgers’ win, Halloween festivities and the upcoming elections. Luna said Wednesday night’s problems were caused by “a very small segment of east Los Angeles communities. Most of them were out celebrating because they love their Dodgers.”
The Dodgers plan to commemorate their championship Friday with a downtown parade followed by a celebration at Dodger Stadium. The team said Wednesday that because of logistics, traffic and timing, fans won’t be able to attend both events.
The parade was expected to include members of the Dodgers traveling atop double-decker buses along a 45-minute route on city streets.
Officials urged people to work from home and to use public transportation when possible Friday.
Associated Press journalists Sarah Brumfield in Washington, D.C., and Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this report.
This story corrects that Bass was not wearing a Valenzuela jersey, but one with her name on the back.
A person covered in blue paint runs from a police officer as fans celebrate on streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A person carries out items from a ransacked Nike store after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Fireworks go off as fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Fireworks go off as fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Fireworks go off as fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Fans dance while celebrating on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Fireworks go off as fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Fans celebrate after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles.
A fan confronts police on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A person covered in blue paint runs from a police officer as fans celebrate on streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A person covered in blue paint, paints on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A police officer on horseback grabs a Los Angeles Dodgers flag as people gather on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Police officers attempt to detain a man as people gather on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
An LAFD arson investigator inspects a bus that was set on fire at Sunset and Echo Park after people gathered on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series early Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Firefighters douse water on a bus that was set on fire at Sunset and Echo Park after people gathered on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series early Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Firefighters douse water on a bus that was set on fire at Sunset and Echo Park after people gathered on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series early Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A person carries out items from a ransacked Nike store after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
People carries out items from a ransacked Nike store after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A fan wearing a Shohei Ohtani taunts Los Angeles Police officers as fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Firefighters douse water on a bus that was set on fire at Sunset and Echo Park after people gathered on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series early Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
A person carries out items from a ransacked Nike store after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Fireworks go off as fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
A fan looses control of his skateboard as fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Fans celebrate on the streets after the Los Angeles Dodgers won against the New York Yankees in the baseball World Series Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
