After Republicans Abandon Health Care Cost Fix, Whitehouse Encourages Rhode Islanders to Check Their 2026 Options on HealthSource RI

Health care premiums set to double after Republicans broke promise and refused to work in a bipartisan way to lower families' health care costs

Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today encouraged Rhode Islanders to check their 2026 health care plans while the Open Enrollment Period lasts on HealthSourceRI.com. Rhode Islanders have until the end of day today, December 23, to select and pay for coverage that begins January 1 to ensure they have their insurance cards for the start of the year.

The Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress's failure to address runaway health care costs will lead to more than 40,000 Rhode Islanders who rely on the Affordable Care Act for health insurance having their premiums double on average when enhanced premium tax credits expire at the end of this year.

"Through their rigged Beautiful-for-Billionaires Bill and a cruel insistence on preventing people from having health care, President Trump and Congressional Republicans have sentenced families to massive health insurance costs in 2026," said Whitehouse. "I encourage Rhode Islanders to double-check your health insurance coverage today to ensure your previous plan still works best for your family and your budget. And I will keep pushing on every available avenue to lessen the blow of this Republican cost tsunami."

During open enrollment, insured and uninsured Rhode Islanders can compare health insurance coverage options and choose health plans for 2026. More than 40,000 Rhode Islanders who rely on the Affordable Care Act for health insurance will see their premiums double on average when Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits expire at the end of this year. The premium spike is driven by Republicans' refusal to engage in bipartisan negotiations to extend the enhanced premium tax credits.

Whitehouse fought for passage of the Lower Health Care Costs Act, a bipartisan effort to extend the enhanced premium tax credits for three years and insure four million more people, while reducing insurance premiums. Republicans struck down the legislation this month. About 13,000 Rhode Islanders are expected to drop health insurance coverage altogether.

In July, President Trump and Congressional Republicans jammed through their Big, Beautiful-for-Billionaires bill, which slashes almost a trillion dollars from Medicaid and raises health insurance costs, all to bankroll tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. Because of these Republican health care cuts, Rhode Island is slated to lose up to $5 billion in federal funding in the years ahead - ripping health care away from Rhode Islanders and harming the state's already-fragile health care system.

Rhode Islanders looking to purchase a plan during open enrollment can visitHealthSourceRI.com through January 31. The last possible day to enroll and pay for a 2026 plan under Open Enrollment is January 31, for coverage that starts February 1.

Whitehouse's constituent services staff is available to help answer questions at (401) 453-5294 or at whitehouse.senate.gov.