The Affordable Care Act is back in the political crosshairs, with Republicans and Democrats trading shots over who's to blame for rising health care costs.

When Insurance Companies Win Big

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) didn't mince words Thursday when he declared on X that "Obamacare has failed." His main gripe? Premiums have jumped dramatically across the country since the law took effect, while health insurance company profits have reportedly risen by more than 2,000%.

That's quite a spread. Lawler's argument is that the whole system was rigged from the start because insurance companies had their fingerprints all over the legislation. "It was written by the health insurance companies, for the health insurance companies," he said, "which is why these subsidies, as currently structured, are not making health insurance more affordable."

His conclusion is straightforward: "We need reform."

Democrats Sound The Alarm

Democrats are firing back, warning that Republican inaction is about to make things worse. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) accused Republicans of driving up health care premiums in 2026, emphasizing that Democrats remain committed to lowering costs and expanding access.

Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) tapped into widespread public frustration over affordability, pledging to keep fighting for lower costs and more family support. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) raised the stakes further, warning that expiring ACA tax credits could leave millions of Americans without coverage.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) went even further, calling Republican inaction nothing short of a health care crisis and highlighting Democratic efforts to protect access while reducing costs.

Meanwhile, Republicans Tout Wins

Not everyone in the GOP is focused on health care reform right now. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) called 2025 a "historic year," crediting the House GOP and the president with delivering on border security, tax cuts, and lower costs across the board.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) pointed to crime statistics, noting that overall crime and drug overdoses are down, with the nation experiencing its largest one-year drop in the murder rate.

The health care debate clearly isn't going anywhere, and with ACA subsidies set to expire, the political stakes are only getting higher.