John — I want to tell you what this government shutdown is really about.

When you buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), the government chips in to lower your bill. The technical term is "premium tax credit” or “PTC.”

But think of it like a discount that brings down the price you pay each month.

Whether you’ve heard of the PTC or not, you almost certainly benefit from it — 93% of enrollees do. 

But here’s the issue, John: it’s about to expire. And if it does, you're going to notice. Your bill could jump by hundreds of dollars every month.

Republicans are okay with that. They want the discount to expire. 

Democrats disagree. We want to extend it, so your monthly costs don't spike. This is the crux of this government shutdown fight.

Here’s why the timing matters: insurers are setting prices now for open enrollment — the time of year when you renew your plan or shop for a new one. If Republicans keep the government closed and refuse to extend your discount, then you're going to be locked into the higher price. The fix is simple: extend the discount and prevent this massive, foreseeable price hike.

We wrote a bill to do that. Republicans voted no. In other words, Republicans would rather shut the government down than give you a break on your monthly bills.

Republicans control the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. They promised you that they would lower your costs — groceries, rent, medicine, energy bills, and more. 

They didn't. Your costs are up.

Now, they have an easy opportunity to stop a price hike that everyone knows is coming.  If they continue to refuse, millions of Americans will lose their care — many will get sick, and some will die. 

These are the stakes. It's a righteous fight. And I’m not backing down from it. I hope you’re standing with me.

With love and gratitude,

Cory