House Republicans to Host Hearings on Health Care Affordability

House Republicans are set to summon top health insurance executives to testify on January 22, 2026, as part of a series of hearings aimed at addressing health care affordability. This initiative follows the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies on December 31, 2025, which has led to increased out-of-pocket costs for millions of low- and middle-income Americans enrolled in ACA plans. The hearings will be conducted by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Ways and Means Committee, focusing on the broader implications of health care costs beyond those affected by the ACA.

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The hearings will feature executives from five major health insurance companies: Stephen Hemsley, CEO of UnitedHealth Group; David Joyner, President and CEO of CVS Health; David Cordani, President, CEO, and Chairman of Cigna Health; Gail Boudreaux, President and CEO of Elevance Health; and Paul Markovich, President and CEO of Ascendiun. House Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) are leading the initiative, emphasizing the need to discuss the role of large health insurers in rising costs.

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The hearings come amid a politically charged environment, with Democrats criticizing Republicans for allowing the ACA subsidies to expire, which they argue has exacerbated affordability issues for Americans. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, stated that the expiration of these subsidies has led to skyrocketing insurance premiums for 24 million Americans. In contrast, Republicans assert that the ACA is a failing program and that the hearings are necessary to explore solutions that do not rely on temporary measures.

The Hill

Republicans have framed their actions as a response to what they describe as a "mess" created by Democratic policies. They argue that the enhanced ACA subsidies, initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, have been mismanaged and are associated with waste and fraud, as highlighted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Furthermore, they contend that the expiration of these subsidies has had a minimal impact on overall premium costs, countering Democratic claims that the expiration is primarily responsible for rising health insurance prices.

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As the hearings approach, the House is also expected to vote on a bill aimed at extending the enhanced ACA subsidies, which has become a focal point in the ongoing healthcare debate. Republicans have introduced the Lower Health Care Premiums for All American Act, which the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates would reduce premiums by 11 percent and save $35.6 billion. The outcome of these hearings and legislative actions could significantly influence the direction of health care policy in the United States.

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• “Instead of temporarily bailing out a failing program utilized by a fraction of the country, we have invited five of the top health insurance company CEOs to testify before our Committees to have a discussion and answer questions about rising costs, the current state of health care affordability, and the role played by large health insurers,” — Brett Guthrie, House Energy and Commerce Chairman

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• “Last year, Democrats repeatedly pressed Republicans to take action, but they refused, and so the tax credits expired at the end of 2025,” — Frank Pallone Jr., Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member

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• “Republicans are committed to making health care more affordable by driving solutions that increase patient choice and competition, root out waste, fraud, and abuse, and put patients back at the center of our health care system,” — Brett Guthrie and Jason Smith, House Committee Chairs

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