Rep. Peters, Hospital, Community Health Center Staff Call on Senate to Extend ACA Premium Tax Credits as Covered California Deadline Nears

San Diego, CA - Today, Rep. Peters and local healthcare professionals gathered at Scripps Mercy Hospital to discuss how healthcare providers and San Diegans are hurt by two recent events: drastic cuts to Medicaid made in the Republicans' Big Beautiful Bill and the January 1 expiration of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.

"If decimating Medicaid last year wasn't enough of a hit, the expiration of ACA tax credits will now force tens of thousands of San Diegans to delay care or go without health insurance altogether," said Rep. Peters. "Open enrollment for Covered California - our state's health insurance marketplace created by the ACA - ends on January 31. Right now, San Diegans are shopping for health insurance, and many are worried about how to afford it."

Rep. Peters brought together hospital and community health center staff who spoke about what our communities are experiencing and bracing for in the midst of this healthcare affordability crisis.

"The Affordable Care Act has made heath care insurance available to millions who might otherwise go without health insurance risking themselves, society, and our healthcare system," said Chris Van Gorder, President and CEO of Scripps Health. "We encourage our federal legislators to extend the current subsidies until such time as a reasonable and effective replacement can be developed."

"When coverage lapses, people do not stop needing healthcare. We anticipate that San Diegans who can no longer afford their plans will rely on sliding-scale fee options at community health centers, or delay treatment until preventable conditions become emergencies requiring hospital-level care," said Pauline Lucatero MSN, RN, Vice President of Community Affairs at Family Health Centers of San Diego. "This places additional pressure on the healthcare safety net at a time when more Medi-Cal patients are expected to lose coverage due to federal changes under H.R.1. With the January 31 deadline to enroll in Covered California approaching, our certified enrollment staff are available to provide free, confidential assistance to help patients understand their coverage options."

"The expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits is a devastating setback for the families we serve," said Dr. Jorge Otañez, Associate Chief Medical Officer at TrueCare. "At TrueCare, we care for working families who maintain health coverage only with the assistance of these credits, allowing them to see a doctor, manage chronic conditions, and seek preventive care for themselves and their children without fear of financial ruin. Without congressional action, many of our patients will be forced to choose between paying rent or paying for health insurance, and too many will become uninsured altogether. This is a real and immediate threat to people's health and stability."

On January 8, Rep. Peters voted to extend ACA tax credits for three years to make health care coverage more affordable. The measure passed in the House and Rep. Peters continues to urge his Senate colleagues to support this extension as well. Nearly 150,000 San Diegans rely on the ACA tax credits to afford coverage, and more than 125,000 are already seeing their health care costs surge, including 28,000 people in CA-50 alone.

A livestreamed recording of the event can be viewed here.

Additional photos from the event, courtesy of the office of Rep. Scott Peters, can be viewed here.

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