John,

I wanted to make sure you saw Deborah’s email from yesterday. If Congress doesn’t act by the end of this month, they could jeopardize health care coverage for millions of people.

At issue is an expansion of the Affordable Care Act Advance Premium Tax Credits passed in the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. If these are allowed to expire next year, or not renewed before insurance companies set the rates for 2026, millions of people will see their out-of-pocket health care expenses rise by hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

Some of the people most impacted by the loss of the premium tax credits are speaking out:¹

“I would have to trade one specialist for another and figure out what I absolutely had to be able to afford and what I can afford to let go. It’s a hard choice because what condition do I stop treating? What specialists would I let go? What doctor visits would I stop doing?” — Lisa, from Ohio

“It is super expensive to pay for a medical consultation with a general practitioner. It is super expensive to pay for an ultrasound. I wouldn’t have access to these types of exams [without insurance]. [Not having insurance] would be severe for me.” – Darling, from Florida

“It would [not] be an option for us. If it is like that, I would not pay it. Lowering the amount of the monthly premiums makes it possible to have insurance…especially because of the economy right now.” — Ana, from Texas

These are just some of the stories our coalition partners are hearing from everyday people. And with many facing high health costs, it would be gross negligence for Congress to fail to extend the current ACA premium tax credits. If Congress does not act, it could lead to premiums spiking across our health system next year. There is no reason why Congress should allow countless people to suffer due to their inaction.

Send a message to Congress urging them to extend the premium tax credits before this session of Congress ends.

Thank you for all you do,

Meredith Dodson
Senior Director of Public Policy, CHN Action

¹ Marketplace Enrollees Speak Out: People Fear Higher Costs if Congress Does Not Act
² Premium Tax Credit Improvements Must Be Extended to Prevent Steep Rise in Health Care Costs

-- DEBORAH'S EMAIL --

John,

Voters went to the polls last month with a very clear message: they want lower costs and better economic security. Eighty-six percent of voters―including 82% who voted for Donald Trump―want the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits used to purchase affordable health insurance extended.¹

The ACA premium tax credits were temporarily increased by Congress in recent years. The current credits don’t expire until December 31, 2025, but insurance companies will announce the 2026 rates by mid-2025―and this potential loss of health coverage could push health costs up for all of us. This means that Congress should act now to extend current levels of the ACA Advance Premium Tax Credits to avoid an unnecessary increase in people’s out of pocket health care expenses.

If the current tax credit levels are allowed to expire, single people in their mid-40s making $30,000 per year will see premium increases of $1,350. Married couples in their 60s who earn $80,000 per year will see their premiums increase by $17,500 per year!²

Congress must act quickly to keep health care affordable for all. Send a direct message to Congress, urging them to extend current levels of the ACA Advance Premium Tax Credit now.

The Congressional Budget Office released a report stating that if the premium tax credit improvements were not extended, as many as 4 million Americans would lose their health care and see health care premiums increase as high as 8%.³

The increase in the premium tax credit was passed as a part of the Inflation Reduction Act. It provided families an average of $2,400 in savings and, in response, the country saw record high health care enrollment of over 20 million people, with Black, Latino, and low-income communities seeing the greatest health care coverage gains.⁴ All of that good work is at risk of being undone if Congress doesn’t deliver for the American people and extend the premium tax credits.

The impact of the expanded premium tax credits cannot be overstated. 19.3 million people received the credits and saved $705 in 2024, on average.^5,6

We cannot allow all of that progress to be stripped away. Send a message to Congress today, urging them to extend the expanded premium tax credits.

Thank you for all you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, CHN Action

¹ NEW POLL: 86% of 2024 Voters Want New President and Congress to Extend Expiring Health Care Tax Credits
² The Importance of Premium Tax Credits: Affording Health Insurance Coast to Coast
³ The Effects of Not Extending the Expanded Premium Tax Credits for the Number of Uninsured People and the Growth in Premiums
⁴ Premium Tax Credit Improvements Must Be Extended to Prevent Steep Rise in Health Care Costs
⁵ Data as of February 2024, the most recent available. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Effectuated Enrollment: Early 2024 Snapshot and Full Year 2023 Average
⁶ Inflation Reduction Act Health Insurance Subsidies: What is Their Impact and What Would Happen if They Expire?