What Mainers are Watching: “‘It's Ridiculous.’ Maine Cancer Patient Expects Insurance Premium to Triple” [WMTW]

Mainers see insurance rates skyrocket after Collins refused to extend tax credits

Augusta, Maine - After Susan Collins refused to include an extension of ACA tax credits in the deal to reopen the government, impacted Mainers continue to sound the alarm about the hardship they'll face due to the skyrocketing insurance rates they're now seeing during the CoverME ACA marketplace's open enrollment period.

Despite months of warnings from Mainers about the impact rising costs will have on them and their health and Maine state officials warning action had to be taken before September 30th, Susan Collins did not sponsor any legislation to extend the tax credits and instead voted numerous times against a bill and amendment that would have protected health care for more than 50,000 Mainers who are at risk.

See what Mainers are watching and reading:

WMTW: "It's ridiculous." Maine cancer patient expects insurance premium to triple
By Bonnie Bishop
November 11, 2025

• The shutdown may be close to ending, but the fight over health care isn't. Without tax credits to help pay for Affordable Care Act plans, thousands of Mainers could see the cost of their insurance go way up.

• Julie Morringello is in remission from cancer and has a plan under the ACA. She says she's worried about how she'll be able to pay for her plan.

• "I still require care," Morringello said. "Having insurance for me is incredibly important, and health care is incredibly expensive."

• Morringello expects her monthly premium to triple if Congress doesn't extend tax credits.

• Those tax credits help her and more than 60,000 Mainers get health insurance. After the Senate agreed to reopen the government without extending Affordable Care Act credits, they left tax credits up in the air, with the potential for higher health care costs.

• "I'm like, resorting to ChatGPT to try and figure out what my premium is," Morringello said. "It's ridiculous."

See more: MDP Statement on Susan Collins Refusing to Stave Off Skyrocketing Insurance Rates; ICYMI: Mainers Protest Susan Collins as She Refuses to Extend ACA Tax Credits; What They're Saying: "Mainers Face Steep Premiums on ACA Marketplace with Expiration of Enhanced Tax Credits"; What Mainers are Saying: "Susan Collins Refuses to Protect Our Health Care"; What They're Watching: Mainers Share Personal Stories of How Skyrocketing Insurance Rates Will Impact Their Lives & Health; What Mainers are Saying About Rising Insurance Premiums: "I am Scared," "What Are We Going to Do," People "Are Going to Die"; What Mainers are Saying: Rising Insurance Premiums are "Catastrophic"; ICYMI: "Mainers to Collins: Prioritize Our Health, Renew ACA Tax Credits"; ICYMI: Impacted Mainers Discuss Skyrocketing Insurance Rates As Collins Refuses to Protect Mainers' Health Care; While Mainers Face Health Care Cliff, Collins Gets MAGA Swag Bag at Trump "Unity" Lunch; What They're Saying: Maine Democrats, Advocates Criticize Collins, "Warn [of] Health Care Increases" [Maine Morning Star]; ICYMI: Maine Dems, Health Care Leaders Call Out Collins for Failing To Protect Mainers' Health Care; What Mainers are Watching and Reading: Thanks to Collins, Mainers "Could See Their Premiums Skyrocket"; Maine Beacon: Susan Collins accepts thousands from insurers while health costs soar for Mainers

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