Congress Must Extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits and Lower Health Care Costs Now

Congress Must Extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits and Lower Health Care Costs Now

There are just a few weeks left for Congress to act and extend the enhanced premium tax credits that lower health care costs for millions of Americans. If Congress does nothing, premiums will skyrocket in January and millions of Americans are likely to lose health coverage as a result.

Over the past few weeks, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have come out in support of taking action to prevent the huge premium spikes that will devastate people and families across the country.

Most recently, a bipartisan group of 30 House members endorsed a compromise that would extend the tax credits, representing significant momentum in the ongoing debate.

Additionally, we've seen a three-year extension of existing tax credits supported by the entire House Democratic Caucus through a proposed discharge petition. This same proposal is what Senate Democrats will be voting on Thursday as part of their handshake deal that re-opened the government.

Even the White House released their own proposal last month. And though that plan was inadequate and was met with immediate opposition from many Republicans and Democrats alike, the fact that President Trump finally felt compelled to offer any solution suggests that the calls and cries for help from health care consumers are starting to be heard.

Now is the time to join the chorus and call your member of Congress TODAY.

For over a year, Americans across the country have been pleading with Congress and this administration to lower costs, including the cost of health care. They must act before it's too late.

A Solution Americans Want and Need

In Families USA's recent poll, 91% of voters across the political spectrum believed Washington should do something to lower health care costs, and 73% of voters supported extending these tax credits.

More than 22 million Americans use the tax credits to help them afford their monthly health insurance premiums. If the enhanced subsidies expire, millions of people will see their premiums skyrocket next year, with many paying not just hundreds but thousands of dollars more for health coverage.

Single workers in their mid-40s making $31,300 will see their premiums spike by more than 185% - an average increase of $1,344 per year.

Couples in their early 60s earning a combined income of $85,000 will see their premiums spike by more than 300% - a whopping increase of more than $24,000 per year. In some states, their premiums will increase by over $45,000.

Estimates show that as many as 4 million people will lose coverage next year. We've heard story after story from those who are worried about their premiums going up next year and whether they will be able to stay on their health coverage.

Real Stories of How the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Benefit Americans

ReShonda Youngruns a health food store in Waterloo, Iowa and gets her health care coverage through the Marketplace.

"The Affordable Care Act and the premium tax credits have been really important to me," she said. A widow and cancer survivor, she depends on affordable coverage to stay protected. "The premium tax credit had taken the payment out of my pocket down to $94 a month. The same policy would be $592 a month without that premium tax credit."

Tori Baggotlives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she is working to launch a small letterpress printing business. To stay healthy while managing a chronic illness, Tori relies on affordable coverage through Pennsylvania's state-based marketplace, known as Pennie.

"Through Pennie, I have a plan that meets all of my needs that is especially important because I have a chronic illness that requires regular specialist visits, testing, and medications."

Right now, Tori pays $197 a month for her plan, but that affordability depends on federal subsidies. "If the subsidy enhancements are not extended, I'll pay $2,400 more per year than I'm paying now."

While allowing these tax credits to expire will wreak havoc on the system and devastate millions of families, Congress has the power to avoid all of this - if they just vote yes. Time is running out for Congress to take action before the enhanced premium tax credits expire at the end of this month. Americans are already facing double digit rate increases for 2026 and without the help of these tax credits, millions of people will be forced to go without care or coverage or make other sacrifices to make ends meet.

Call your member of Congress TODAY to demand they extend the enhanced premium tax credits and lower health care costs now.

For more information on how you can get involved and contact Congress, visit: https://familiesusa.org/lower-health-care-costs-now/