Ohioans Slam Jon Husted For Prioritizing Insurance Lobbyist Donors, Refusing to Lower Health Care Costs

Ohioans Slam Jon Husted For Prioritizing Insurance Lobbyist Donors, Refusing to Lower Health Care Costs

February 5, 2026

Husted Has Taken Nearly $700K From Health Insurance Companies Raising Rates In Ohio

Columbus, Ohio - Today, Ohio patients, small business owners, and health care providers rallied outside Jon Husted's Columbus office to call out his refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits and lower health care costs - resulting in as many as 120,000 fewer Ohioans signing up for coverage through the marketplace.

This comes as new reporting reveals Husted's close ties to Ohio's insurance industry, taking nearly $700,000 from insurance companies and executives that are directly raising rates on Ohioans. This includes at least $75,000 from Centene, a company that was forced to pay the state of Ohio $88 million in damages for committing Medicaid fraud.

"This year more than half a million Ohioans had their insurance costs skyrocket, causing over 120,000 to go without. People are making tough choices between heath care and basic needs. This is a direct result of Jon Husted's votes and his choice not to fight for people in Ohio," said State Senator Beth Liston.

"Our healthcare costs are skyrocketing, and Senator Jon Husted has done nothing! In fact, he has actively made this tremendous health care issue worse by refusing to extend the ACA tax credits 9 times during Congressional voting! This is the insurance option that saved my life," said Mindy Hedges, a Delaware County resident and Type 1 diabetic.

"As a nurse, I see the consequences of unaffordable health care every day - patients skipping medications or delaying care because of insanely high costs. We are tired of watching Jon Husted side with the big insurance companies over Ohioans. It's time our politicians put people over profits," said Catharyne Henderson, Ohio Nurses Association.

"The Affordable Care Act tax credits were a lifeline to me and how I was able to afford insurance as a small business owner. Because Jon Husted sided with the big insurance companies over us, I won't be able to afford health insurance this year. This is Jon Husted's health care crisis," said Melinda Carter, a Columbus small business owner.

###