John,

Last night, the Senate passed a government funding bill that does nothing to rein in health costs.¹ Twenty-four million people used the ACA marketplace in 2025 to obtain health insurance for themselves and their families. And now, those 24 million people are seeing their premiums skyrocket.²

At a time when prices for essentials like groceries and utility bills are already increasing, asking people to pay hundreds of dollars or even $1,000 or more per month for health insurance is unrealistic, especially when 59% of Americans don’t have enough savings to cover an emergency expense of $1,000 or more.³ (Want some examples? A family of four earning $130,000 per year in Maryland would owe close to $400 per month more if the enhanced tax credits expire; in New Mexico that same family would owe an additional $1,074 per month.)⁴

The Senate’s government funding bill doesn’t include extending the ACA premium tax credits, and a House vote on this package is expected as soon as tomorrow. Instead of addressing rising health costs and undoing the damage of this summer’s budget package, this legislation will mean millions of Americans will see their health care premiums more than double, forcing some to go without health care altogether.

Send a direct message to Congress today, urging them to vote against any government funding bill that does not include the ACA health insurance subsidies.

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 2026.⁵ And while many people across the country are facing higher costs of living, a 60-year-old couple in Georgia who together earn $85,000 could face almost $25,000 more in premium costs.⁶

We are in a health care crisis, and the combined impact of Republicans cutting nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid this summer and not extending the ACA 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 reject any funding bill that does not include an extension of the enhanced ACA premium tax credits.

Send a message to Congress telling them to reject any government funding bill that does not include extending the enhanced ACA premium tax credits.

Thank you for all you do,

Meredith Dodson
Senior Director of Public Policy, CHN Action

PS: Are you angry that President Trump is fighting in court to stop families from getting SNAP benefits in order to maximize the pain during the shutdown instead of dealing with rising health costs? On this Veterans Day, it’s worth noting that 1.2 million veterans participate in the SNAP program.⁷ We appreciate all that you do to protect access to basic needs programs for veterans and others.

¹ Senate Roll Call Vote 618 (60-40)
² Health Insurance Premium Spikes Imminent as Tax Credit Enhancements Set to Expire
³ Most Americans can't afford a $1,000 emergency expense, report finds
⁴ The Struggle to Pay for Health Care and Food is Getting Worse
⁵ ACA Marketplace Premium Payments Would More than Double on Average Next Year if Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire
⁶ Gideon 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.
⁷ SNAP Helps 1.2 Million Veterans With Low Incomes, Including Thousands in Every State

-- DEBORAH'S EMAIL --

John,

Open enrollment on the ACA Marketplace is here, and many Americans are experiencing sticker shock over skyrocketing premiums due to the loss of the enhanced premium tax credits. Without these subsidies, most people on the health care exchange will see their premiums more than double next year.

This is unsustainable, and the fact that Congress seems set to pass a government funding bill that does not address skyrocketing health costs is unacceptable.

Send a direct message to the House and Senate telling them to reject a bill to resume government funding that doesn’t include extending the ACA enhanced premium tax credits.

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!), it would cause a significant strain on their household finances.¹ Forty-two percent say they would go without health insurance entirely.²

With congressional Republicans and the administration driving up health costs along with groceries and housing through their massive cuts to basic needs programs, and many families facing the prospect of not being able to put food on the table as the administration uses SNAP participants as political pawns, the time for Congress to stop massive hikes in health costs is now.

Join us in calling on Congress to reject a funding extension bill that doesn’t include the ACA premium tax credits.

Thank you for all you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, CHN Action

¹ ACA Marketplace Premium Payments Would More than Double on Average Next Year if Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire
² KFF Health Tracking Poll: Public Weighs Political Consequences of Health Policy Legislation