Rep. Gabe Vasquez Votes for Lower Health Care Costs for New Mexicans

WASHINGTON, D.C.- On January 8, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02)voted in support of a three-year extension for ACA enhanced premium tax credits (EPTCs) to protect New Mexicans from soaring health care costs. The bill now heads to the Senate.

"I've heard directly from doctors, patients, and hospital leaders across my district, and they've made it clear we need to extend these tax credits to prevent health care price hikes and keep rural hospitals open for New Mexicans," said Vasquez. "When MAGA extremists price New Mexicans out of their health coverage, it drives up the price of health care for everyone else, even those on private insurance. I will always stand up against bad policies that make New Mexico poorer and sicker."

Under current law, the ACA enhanced premium tax credits expired on December 31, 2025. Rep. Vasquez voted in favor of H.R. 1834 today, which would extend the tax credits through December 31, 2028 and back-date coverage to January 1, 2026.

Vasquez has been raising the alarm about the expiring ACA enhanced premium tax credits for months, after hearing concerns about rising health care costs directly from constituents, patients, and health care providers across southern New Mexico. In September, Vasquez hosted a roundtablewith patients who benefit from the lifesaving ACA EPTCs, as well as caregivers, health care providers, and health care officials who raised concerns about what the expiration of federal support would mean for access to preventative care, rural hospital closures, and rising mortality rates.

While New Mexico's state legislature has taken steps to protect New Mexicans who rely on ACA enhanced premium tax credits for this year, health care costs are still rising for many New Mexicans - even those with private and employer-based health care plans. This is because the expiration of ACA EPTCs nationally has led to fewer people being able to afford coverage overall, leading to a reduced payer pool and driving up costs for insurers. Those higher costs are then pushed onto consumers - including in New Mexico - through increased premiums.

Vasquez previously led a letter to Speaker Johnson urging him to reverse his decision to cancel voting days in the House of Representatives ahead of the government shutdown, instead urging members to work together to find a bipartisan solution to keep the government open and prevent health care costs from skyrocketing. He is also a cosponsor of the Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act, which would reverse these devastating health care cuts and permanently extend the ACA EPTCs.

The Congressman remains committed to protecting access to affordable health care and rural hospital services for New Mexico families.

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