John,

Health insurance companies just requested premium increases averaging 20% for 2026.¹ This is, in part, due to congressional Republicans’ refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credit, which was keeping health care more affordable for millions of Americans.

Congress and the White House promised they would reduce health care costs for everyday people, but because Republicans chose to spend money on tax breaks for billionaires, rather than affordability for everyday people, the enhanced premium tax credit will expire at the end of this year. This will result in healthier people dropping their health insurance, while less healthy people remain. Sicker people means more costs to insurers. And it’s no surprise that they’re passing that cost along to the American people.

There’s still time to fix this when Congress comes back from their August recess.

Send a message to Congress and demand they restore the Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credits and keep health care more affordable for everyday people.

Three hundred twelve health insurers participate in Healthcare.gov, the federally run ACA marketplace. 125 of them have requested premium increases higher than the average, ranging from 20% to 50% or more.²

Because the increased premium tax credits made insurance far more affordable, the number of people insured through the ACA marketplace jumped from 11.2 million in 2021 to 23.4 million in 2025. But if the enhanced premium tax credit is allowed to expire, the cost of marketplace insurance would be expected to rise by $700 per year.³ Payments for premiums would rise by over 75% on average, and in a dozen states, costs will more than double⁴—putting the cost of health insurance out of reach for many.

Access to health care is not a privilege; it’s a human right. Lacking health insurance leads to a host of adverse health outcomes that impact a person’s long-term health and livelihood. In the wealthiest country in the world, everyone should be able to get the health care they need.

Join us in calling on Congress to restore the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits immediately.

Thank you for all you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, CHN Action

¹ How much and why ACA Marketplace premiums are going up in 2026
²How much and why ACA Marketplace premiums are going up in 2026
³ An Updated County-Level Look at Imminent ACA Marketplace Premium Increases
⁴ How much and why ACA Marketplace premiums are going up in 2026