As the threat of a government shutdown looms, health care costs and the future of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies have become pivotal issues. Recent polling shows that a majority of Americans, including many Trump supporters, favor extending ACA tax credits that are set to expire. Without these renewals, premiums could jump by more than 100%, leaving millions at risk of losing affordable health insurance. Democrats blame Republicans for the impending costs associated with expiring pandemic-era subsidies, while GOP leaders are caught in a conflict over how to address the issue amid the shutdown. States like Tennessee and South Dakota face alarming projections of doubled premiums, raising urgent questions about health care accessibility in the midst of political turmoil.