Cuban-American Republican congress members did not vote in favor of the extension of Obamacare

The Cuban-American congress members María Elvira Salazar, Mario Díaz-Balart, and Carlos Giménez, known as “the three from Miami”, voted against extending Obamacare subsidies, a decision that could lead to an immediate increase in health insurance premiums for approximately 22 million Americans starting in January 2026.

The House of Representatives and the Senate, both under Republican control, have adjourned sessions until next year without reaching an agreement to renew federal aid that lowers the costs of policies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), popularly known as Obamacare, reported NBC News.

The legislative blockade leaves in limbo the subsidies approved during the pandemic, which expire on December 31 and benefit millions of middle-class and working families, especially in Florida, the state with the highest number of enrollees in Obamacare.

While four moderate Republican congressmen —Brian Fitzpatrick, Rob Bresnahan, and Ryan Mackenzie (Pennsylvania) and Mike Lawler (New York)— joined forces with the Democrats to push for an emergency vote in January, the Cuban-American legislators from Miami aligned themselves with the Republican leadership and the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson (R–Louisiana), who opposes renewing the funding.

The maneuver of moderate Republicans, known as discharge petition, aims to force a bipartisan vote on a proposal to extend subsidies for three years, a measure that would help keep premium prices stable while structural reforms to the healthcare system are negotiated.

However, the representatives Salazar, Díaz-Balart, and Giménez refused to support the initiative, a decision that has already sparked strong criticism among voters in their districts in South Florida, where hundreds of thousands of residents rely on the ACA for access to affordable health coverage.

According to NBC News, the lack of an agreement will cause insurance premiums to rise starting in January, which will directly impact households that rely on federal subsidies.

Senator Chuck Schumer (D–New York) warned that once the increases take effect, it will be "very difficult to reverse them."

On their part, several Senate Republicans —including Lisa Murkowski and Mike Rounds— acknowledged that it is necessary to approve a temporary extension of the subsidies to prevent "an economic blow to millions of families".

The Democrats plan to use this issue as an electoral weapon in the 2026 midterm elections, reminding voters that the Republicans —including the congressmen from Miami— "attacked Obamacare again" and put the healthcare coverage of millions of Americans at risk.

The health debate coincides with the open enrollment period of the ACA, which ends on January 15, 2026, and comes amidst the new offensive by President Donald Trump to lower the prices of medications and private insurance through direct agreements with pharmaceutical companies and insurers.