Trump Health Plan Sidesteps Lapsed Obamacare Subsidies, Pushes HSA Expansion

President Donald Trump’s new health-care proposal notably omits any direct mention of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies that expired at the end of 2025, creating a clear policy gap ahead of the next campaign season.

What the Plan Says — And What It Leaves Out

The White House signaled that an extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies is not entirely off the table, but framed the president’s priorities more broadly. A White House official told reporters that the administration is not closing the door on an extension and quoted the president as saying the subsidies are "far too narrow a view" of what is ailing the health-care system.

"The president thinks that that is far too narrow a view on what is ailing our health care system, and that’s why he is putting something out that is much broader." — White House official

Political Reactions

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) pressed Trump in a recent meeting to support renewing the enhanced subsidies, arguing their lapse hurts millions of Affordable Care Act enrollees. Republicans face pressure to respond quickly: leaving the subsidies unaddressed hands Democrats a ready political issue for the campaign trail.

Administration Priorities

Rather than proposing an immediate renewal of the enhanced subsidies, the administration’s agenda calls on Congress to pursue bipartisan legislation to expand Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for ACA enrollees, along with other reforms. Proponents say HSAs can increase consumer choice and savings, while critics warn expansion does not substitute for direct premium assistance for lower-income enrollees.

What’s next: Congress would need to act to restore the enhanced subsidies or pass the administration’s alternative reforms. Lawmakers from both parties will likely debate which route best stabilizes insurance markets and helps consumers ahead of upcoming elections.