Congress returns to work this week after a holiday break, with several members continuing to search for a political compromise to save millions of Americans from dramatic increases in their health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act.

Two Wrangell residents who spoke to the Wrangell Sentinel on condition of anonymity to protect their financial and medical privacy said they have already seen quotes for 2026 that are 10 times higher than last year.

Higher levels of federal subsidies approved in 2021 expired on Dec. 31, and supporters are pushing for a retroactive extension to rescue consumers from paying thousands of dollars more for individual coverage this year.

More than 100 individuals in Wrangell had policies through the federal marketplace in 2025, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Unless Congress and the president can reach a deal, millions of Americans who received enhanced federal subsidies last year to reduce their insurance costs will see premiums more than double for 2026, according to an analysis by the health care research nonprofit KFF.

People have until Jan. 15 to sign up for coverage that would start Feb. 1, though congressional supporters of restoring the higher subsidies are pushing to allow retroactive enrollment to cover policies back to Jan. 1, so that the higher premiums for January would be wiped out.

Two Wrangell residents reported they were quoted around $1,500 a month for premiums, presenting them with the choice of paying an unaffordable price for coverage or going without health insurance.

“That was fairly shocking,” one resident said. “That’s the cheapest plan they have,” he said of the $1,478 he was quoted for two people in his household, though he added that likely will go down after he submits current financial information.

“There will be a lot of people not covered by January,” he said. “It’s going to be a mess.”

A woman said she was working with a patient benefits team member at SEARHC to determine her family’s insurance costs for this year when the agent said: “Are you sitting down?”

The woman’s husband, who had paid $107 a month last year, was quoted a $1,558 monthly premium for 2026.

“We took him off (insurance),” she said. “I think a lot of people are going to see that.”

The expired subsidies, known as enhanced tax credits, were provided to Affordable Care Act enrollees starting in 2021 as a temporary measure to help Americans get through the COVID-19 pandemic. The expiration date later was extended to Dec. 31, 2025.

With the expanded subsidies, some lower-income enrollees received insurance with no premiums, and high earners paid no more than 8.5% of their income, according to Associated Press reporting. Eligibility for middle-class earners was also expanded.

Without an extension, the subsidies return to lower levels and apply to fewer people.

Congressional Republicans and Democrats were unable to reach a deal to extend or change the program before they left town for the holidays last month.

Health analysts have predicted that the expiration of the subsidies will drive many of the 24 million Affordable Care Act enrollees — especially younger and healthier Americans — to forgo insurance coverage altogether, the Associated Press reported.

Almost 29,000 Alaskans signed up for policies in 2025, at an average cost of $223 a month, which would have been $1,105 a month without the federal help.

The Wrangell man who is working to reduce the $1,478 monthly premium he was quoted cautioned people who were on auto-enroll and auto-pay last year to check their 2026 premiums — before the money is taken out of their bank account.

Otherwise, they will be shocked at the premium for this month, he said, as they will automatically be enrolled for 2026 based on last year’s financial information.

People who need help navigating the sign-up process, or have questions about premiums and coverage, can call the SEARHC patient health benefits department in Sitka at 855-966-8684. The service is free and is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

This story was originally published by the Wrangell Sentinel.