We are just weeks away from some 20 million Americans seeing a major spike in their health care premiums.

That's unless Congress works to extend the subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.

Lawmakers expanded and boosted those tax credits during the pandemic, making coverage more affordable for millions of families.

But if the subsidies expire at the end of the year, premiums would double for the

average enrollee, and some people could see their monthly costs rise by more than $1,000.

William Brangham joins us now with more. William.

Jeff, that's right. This battle over extending subsidies was at the very heart of the recent

government shutdown, but Democrats were not

successful in securing any deal, and now both parties remain deadlocked over this issue. The

Congressional Budget Office estimates that more than 2 million will not be able to pay these

higher premiums or other costs, and thus will drop their insurance.

Here's what we heard from some people who are afraid of just that.

My name is Crystal Acres and I live in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

I got a notice October 1st that my premium as of November 1st would be going up over $500. My name is Rashonda Young and I live in Waterloo, Iowa.

My premiums with the premium tax credit are $94 per month.

And without that credit, they go to $592 a month.

My name is Tanika Mason and I live in Dayton, Tennessee. My husband logged

on to the marketplace the first day it was available and saw that our premiums are going to increase

by $1,100. And that is actually devastating to us. The increase is about 225% from what we were paying previously.

I am Melissa Ruff. I'm in Jacksonville, Florida. If nothing happens with the subsidies being

extended by December 31st, my premiums will go from $238 a month to $1,308 a month for my insurance, which is not even top-of-the-line insurance.

The subsidies through the marketplace since the ACA went into effect have allowed me to have insurance as a single parent.

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