WISCONSIN – Today, USA Today published an article by Sarah Wire outlining the ongoing shutdown battle, Republicans’ refusal to permanently extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits lowering premium costs for Americans, and how the expiration of these critical tax credits will impact Americans across the country.
In the piece, Wire profiles three individuals who currently benefit from the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits and detail what will happen to their health care if Republicans let them expire: Victoria Sylvester of Traverse City, Michigan, Lester Johnson or Richmond, Virginia, and Kyle LaFond of Middleton, Wisconsin. All from different backgrounds and places, these few storytellers find themselves in the middle of a funding battle wracking the nation over the future of health care.
“About 92% of the 24.3 million Americans who use the marketplace receive a subsidy of some amount, according to KFF. If Congress doesn’t act and the credits expire at the end of 2025, out-of-pocket premiums would rise by more than 75% on average.
Low-income and older users, as well those who live in states that have not expanded Medicaid, are expected to see the most significant cost increases.”
Despite the vast impact the ACA tax credits have on lowering health care costs for Americans, Republicans are refusing to even meet with Democratic leadership, whose votes they’ll need to pass a government funding bill.
Senate Republicans are due back to Washington Sept. 29 ‒ the day before the current spending authority expires ‒ and Senate leaders are expected to bring the GOP bill up again in hopes Democrats will change their minds in the face of a shutdown. President Donald Trump canceled a planned meeting with Democratic leaders, calling their demands “unserious and ridiculous.” House Republicans are not expected to return until after the shutdown deadline, giving Senate Democrats the choice of relying on GOP promises to extend the credits or letting funding authority end.”
You can read the full article here.
