John,

Another day into the Trump shutdown means another day closer to health care premiums skyrocketing for millions of Americans.

Right now, insurance companies on the ACA Marketplace are notifying customers that their health care premiums are about to double. Meanwhile, open enrollment on the ACA Marketplace is set to open next month.

Congress does not have until the end of the year to address our health care crisis. They must act now.

Send a message to Congress telling them to reject any budget that doesn’t address our health care affordability crisis.

Eighty-six percent of the general public―across partisan lines―admit that they would be concerned if they heard that 4 million people would lose their health care coverage due to Congress not extending these premium tax credits.¹

Without the enhanced premium tax credits, the average person on the ACA Marketplace will see their premiums more than double next year. For example, an individual paying an $888 premium in 2025 will see their premium increase to roughly $1,904 in 2026.² And while many people across the country are facing challenges with higher costs of living, a 60-year old couple in Georgia that together earns $85,000 could face almost $25,000 more in premium costs.³

At a time when prices for essentials like groceries and utility bills are skyrocketing, asking people to pay an extra $200 to $300 or more per month is unrealistic, especially when 59% of Americans don’t have enough savings to cover an emergency expense of $1,000 or more.⁴

Unfortunately, it appears Republicans would prefer to continue this shutdown instead of working to craft a bipartisan deal to address skyrocketing health costs―with Speaker Johnson instead extending recess of the U.S. House of Representatives.⁵ We need Congress to act now.

Send a direct message demanding that the House of Representatives return to session and work with the Senate to pass a budget that extends the enhanced ACA premium tax credits so we can reopen the government and protect Americans’ health care.

Thank you for all you do,

Meredith Dodson
Senior Director of Public Policy, CHN Action

¹KFF Health Tracking Poll: Public Weighs Political Consequences of Health Policy Legislation
²ACA Marketplace Premium Payments Would More than Double on Average Next Year if Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire
³Gideon Lukens on X: Georgia’s 2026 ACA marketplace window shopping began October 1, meaning people are already seeing next year’s premiums spike because of expiring tax credit enhancements.
⁴Most Americans can't afford a $1,000 emergency expense, report finds
⁵Mike Johnson sticks to no-show shutdown strategy as resistance mounts

-- DEBORAH’S EMAIL --

John,

Health insurance providers on the ACA Marketplace are sending out notices this month about premium rate increases, and open enrollment begins on November 1. There is no time to waste for Congress to address skyrocketing health costs by extending the enhanced Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits.

Results of a new survey completed by the KFF found that 78% of the public wants Congress to extend the ACA premium tax credits―including 59% of Republicans.¹

Trump’s shutdown will linger on if his party doesn’t come to the negotiating table and pass a bipartisan budget that extends these tax credits and helps keep health care more affordable.

Send a message to Congress and tell them to extend the enhanced ACA premium tax credits and end the Trump shutdown.

This is about more than a game of political football, it’s about people's lives. Seven in ten adults who buy health insurance on the ACA Marketplace say that if the cost of their premiums were to double (as forecast!²), it would cause a significant strain on their household finances. Forty-two percent say they would go without health insurance entirely.³

We are in a health care crisis, and the combined impact of Republicans cutting nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid this summer and not extending these tax credits would decimate health care in this country for years to come. Extending the ACA tax credits is politically popular and morally necessary. Congress must pass a budget immediately that includes an extension of the enhanced ACA premium tax credits.

Join us in calling on Congress to reject any budget that doesn’t protect our health care.

Thank you for all you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, CHN Action

¹ Despite Budget Concerns, Three-Quarters of Public Say Congress Should Extend the Enhanced ACA Tax Credits Set to Expire Next Year, Including Most Republicans and MAGA Supporters
² ACA Marketplace Premium Payments Would More than Double on Average Next Year if Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire
³ KFF Health Tracking Poll: Public Weighs Political Consequences of Health Policy Legislation