Extend Enhanced ACA Premium Subsidies Before Year-End Expiration

I am writing to urge you to support extending the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies before they expire at the end of this year. The consequences of inaction will be immediate and severe for millions of Americans, including your constituents who depend on this coverage. If these subsidies expire, premiums will more than double on average, jumping from $888 to $1,904 annually. This is not a theoretical concern. Real people in our communities will face impossible choices about their health care. Belinda Hernandez, a Texas barber shop owner, currently pays $215 monthly but would see her premium skyrocket to over $700. A recent KFF poll found that 58% of enrollees could not afford an annual premium hike of $300 without significantly disrupting their household finances. This issue has strong bipartisan support among those who actually use the marketplace. The same KFF poll shows that 72% of Republican enrollees and MAGA supporters with Obamacare coverage favor extending the enhanced subsidies, along with 84% of independents and 95% of Democratic enrollees. More than 9 million Republicans and Republican-leaning independents depend on Obamacare for their health insurance this year, accounting for nearly 40% of all enrollees. The enhanced subsidies have been particularly impactful in red states across the South, where sign-ups have tripled in Texas, Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, Georgia, and Tennessee. These subsidies helped draw a record 24 million people to sign up for policies this year, providing stability and access to care for working families and small business owners. If premiums double, 25% of enrollees say they would be very likely to go without health insurance entirely. This will increase uncompensated care costs, strain emergency rooms, and leave families vulnerable to medical bankruptcy. I urge you to support extending these subsidies and ensure affordable health coverage remains accessible to your constituents.