GEOFF BENNETT: 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.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Geoff, that's right.

This battle over extending subs.. 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 two 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.

CRYSTAL AKERS, Kentucky: My name is Crystal# Akers, and I live in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

I got a notice October 1 that my premium, as# of November 1, would be going up over $500.

RESHONDA YOUNG, Iowa: My name is ReShonda# 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.

TENIKA MASON, Tennessee: My name is Tenika# 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 percent# from what we were paying previously.

MELISSA RUFF, Florida: I am Melissa# Ruff.

I'm in Jacksonville, Florida.

If nothing happens with the subsidies being# extended by December 31, 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.

CRYSTAL AKERS: The subsidies through the# marketplace since the ACA went into effect have## allowed me to have insurance as a single parent.# Without that, it's unmanageable for my budget.

RESHONDA YOUNG: I had gotten a breast# cancer diagnosis a little over a year## ago.

And so having a good, reliable plan was# incredibly helpful, because, even with a plan,## you have got to pay your deductibles.

I still# had to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket,## but at least my monthly premiums were affordable.

TENIKA MASON: Our daughter# is a brain cancer survivor,## and we have to go with the insurer that covers# the specialists that she needs.

My husband and## myself also have health issues that require# multiple visits with specialists throughout## the year.

So not having insurance is not an# option for us.

It would ruin us financially.

MELISSA RUFF: I found out in 2022 that# I had heart disease.

So it allowed me to## have a cardiac cath at very minimal cost,# and stress-testing and echocardiograms## and mammograms and GYN and everything# else and all of my medications.

So,## now, without it, without any health# insurance, that's what I'm facing.

CRYSTAL AKERS: I think the ACA was a step in the# right direction.

My biggest problem with it is how## unstable it's gotten.

So it becomes impossible,# I think, for the middle class to get ahead.

MELISSA RUFF: I would not have been# able to get health care back prior## to the ACA because of preexisting conditions.

So## now the preexisting condition thing with# Obamacare, is that going to be cut too?

RESHONDA YOUNG: The frustrating thing for me# is that you have members of Congress who have## an incredible health insurance plan.# They don't understand what it's like## to have to decide between health insurance# and decreasing my food budget for the month.

CRYSTAL AKERS: I'm still in the process# of figuring out what I'm going to do next.## As far as I'm concerned right# now, I don't have insurance.## I turned off my payment for November, and# I have just got to figure out my options.

MELISSA RUFF: I have chosen# to go without insurance in## 2026.

I'm not going to be able to afford it.

RESHONDA YOUNG: It was such a surprise# for me to get a cancer diagnosis,## and so just knowing that life happens,# and not having it is also not an option.