Hispanic Business Leaders Back Bipartisan Senate Push for Healthcare Subsidies
Washington D.C., Tuesday, 13 January 2026.
Amid a 1.4 million drop in ACA enrollments, the United States Hispanic Business Council has endorsed bipartisan Senate negotiations to extend crucial subsidies. CEO Javier Palomarez warns that without legislative action to counter rising premiums, small business owners face severe financial instability, despite looming veto threats from the White House.
Bipartisan Coalition Seeks Stability
On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the United States Hispanic Business Council (USHBC) formally threw its support behind a specific bipartisan coalition of Senators attempting to salvage the expired tax credits. USHBC President and CEO Javier Palomarez commended the efforts of Senators including Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), emphasizing that cross-party cooperation is essential to solving the immediate financial pressures facing American families [1]. The Council is explicitly urging Senate leadership, including Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), to facilitate a deal that ensures predictability for the small business community [1]. Palomarez argued that the current lack of a deal “compounds uncertainty for employers who are already navigating tight margins,” stressing that small businesses require consistency to invest and grow [1].
Enrollment Declines as Costs Spike
The urgency of these negotiations is underscored by new federal data released on Monday, which indicates a significant contraction in the individual insurance market. As of early 2026, enrollment in Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans stands at 22.8 million, a decrease of 1.4 million compared to the 24.2 million Americans enrolled by mid-January 2025 [2]. This represents a year-over-year enrollment decline of approximately -5.785%. The drop correlates directly with the expiration of enhanced subsidies, which has effectively doubled the average cost of insurance for consumers [2]. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that this policy shift will result in 2 million additional Americans becoming uninsured in 2026, as rising premiums force households to drop coverage [2].
Legislative Impasse and Veto Threats
While the Senate group works toward a compromise, the legislative path remains obstructed by partisan conflict and executive resistance. On Thursday, January 8, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Democratic-sponsored bill to restore the subsidies, a measure that garnered support from 17 Republicans [7]. However, the Senate has previously rejected an identical measure, and the White House has signaled strong opposition [2]. On Sunday, January 11, President Donald Trump threatened to veto the legislation, injecting further uncertainty into the debate just days before the open enrollment window closes [7]. Without congressional action or an administrative extension, the opportunity for most Americans to enroll in ACA coverage for 2026 will end on Thursday, January 15 [2][7].