Families across the Finger Lakes and Central New York are bracing for major health insurance premium hikes next year as the federal government shutdown drags on and Congress remains deadlocked over extending key Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits.
According to data released by U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office, middle-income couples earning around $85,000 annually in the Rochester and Syracuse regions could see their monthly premiums rise by roughly $90 to $130 in 2026 — or about $1,000 to $1,500 more over the course of the year — if the enhanced ACA subsidies expire.
In the Finger Lakes, average monthly premiums are projected to increase from $808.68 to $896.48, while in Central New York they’re expected to climb from $715.28 to $846.99. Those increases mirror trends across upstate New York, where some households could see their bills swell by more than $1,000 per month.
Schumer said the spikes are a direct result of Republican leadership refusing to negotiate an extension of the ACA premium tax credits during the ongoing budget impasse. President Donald Trump and House Republicans have resisted Democratic efforts to tie a renewal of the credits to a broader funding agreement to reopen the government.
“Families across New York are getting sticker shock as they look at 2026 rates,” Schumer said Tuesday. “This is a crisis that will upend the lives of millions, but Republicans refuse to act.”
Republican leaders argue that continued federal spending on programs like the ACA subsidies worsens the national deficit — a concern echoed by many Americans. A new Gallup survey conducted before the shutdown found that 49% of U.S. adults want Congress to reduce the deficit primarily or mostly through spending cuts, while only 17% favor relying mainly on tax increases. Another 27% prefer an even mix of cuts and tax hikes.
The poll underscores a divided public that mirrors the current standoff in Washington: most Democrats favor a balanced approach combining cuts and new revenue, while majorities of Republicans want to focus on cutting federal spending rather than extending costly tax credits.
For residents in upstate regions like Rochester and Syracuse — where healthcare costs, inflation, and access challenges already squeeze household budgets — the outcome of this fiscal debate could have immediate, tangible effects. Without congressional action, millions of Americans could lose affordable marketplace coverage, while extending the credits could deepen partisan disputes over the growing federal debt.
Schumer urged a bipartisan deal before the end of the year, warning that “window shopping” for 2026 coverage is already showing the scale of the increases. But with the government shutdown now stretching into its third week and both parties holding firm to opposing fiscal priorities, there is little sign of movement toward a compromise.
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