States are stepping in with emergency health insurance as government funding expires

At least a dozen states are fighting to limit health insurance increases after Congress failed to renew Obamacare’s enhanced funding, leaving millions of Americans facing higher health care costs.

States including California, Colorado, Maryland and New Mexico have approved or are considering temporary measures to help some residents afford the bills, but some officials across the country said the cost of replacing subsidies for millions of enrollees is beyond the reach of the state budget, according to Politico.

“We can bear the costs a little, but at some point, we will need Congress to act,” New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez told reporters. New Mexico is so far the only state that can fully replace expired grants.

Obamacare, officially known as the Affordable Care Act, was former President Barack Obama’s signature law that extended health care to millions of Americans in 2010. Critics argued that it forced people to buy insurance, raised costs for some consumers and greatly expanded the federal government’s role in health care.

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The expiration of the grants is up for debate during the longest government shutdown in the fall, as Republicans and Democrats tried — and failed — to pass competing plans to extend or replace the tax credits.

Ending the funding is expected to force millions of Americans out of the individual insurance market, increasing pressure on the state’s Medicaid program and hospitals already facing financial difficulties. State responses have varied widely, reflecting political divisions, financial constraints and differing views on the Affordable Care Act.

According to Politico, California, which had expected the funding to expire, is spending about $200 million to subsidize about 300,000 low-income residents, but officials warn that hundreds of thousands more could lose coverage.

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Obamacare, officially known as the Affordable Care Act, was part of President Barack Obama’s 2010 law that expanded health care to millions of Americans. (By Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images; Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Some states are using regulatory strategies instead of direct funding to stretch the remaining funding. Some states, including Georgia and Washington, say budget shortfalls or political opposition are preventing them from operating.

Many states took no action at all, including both Republican-led states that oppose the Affordable Care Act and Democrat-led states that support it, according to Politico.

Several lawmakers in Maine and other battleground states worry that their efforts could prompt Congress to come up with a federal solution.

Senni. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, announced their plan to extend expiring Obamacare funding by two years, which includes income caps and ending unaffordable premiums. (Photos by Anna Moneymaker/Getty; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

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Earlier this month, Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, held bipartisan confabs to fast-track an Obamacare overhaul that would meet the wishes of both sides of the aisle, but has not been officially written into a bill that has passed either chamber yet.

Any fix would likely involve a temporary extension of subsidies paired with Republican demands for protections, such as revenue limits or spending controls.

Fox News’ Alex Miller contributed to this report.