USofCare Applauds Health Care Affordability Act, Urges Congress to Make Enhanced PTCs Permanent

      The Health Care Affordability Act Would Make Critically Needed Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Permanent 

Washington, DC — Today, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced the U.S. Senate version of the  Health Care Affordability Act, a bill that would make permanent the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits that have allowed millions of people to afford quality health insurance through the marketplace. This bill is the Senate companion to H.R. 1692, the Health Care Affordability Act, introduced last year in the House of Representatives by Rep. Lauren Underwood. In response, United States of Care (USofCare) released the following statement:

“Making enhanced premium tax credits permanent is a critical step towards giving millions of people the certainty that their health insurance will remain affordable. I thank Senator Jeanne Shaheen for her  leadership in introducing this bill and I urge members of Congress from both parties to come together and support this common sense policy that will continue to deliver affordable health insurance to people before the end of the year,” said Natalie Davis, CEO and Co-Founder of United States of Care. “We hear constantly in our listening work in all 50 states that lack of access to quality, affordable health insurance is one of the biggest barriers for people seeking care. Cost is the top concern people have about their health care, and solutions like making the enhanced premium tax credits permanent are exactly what we need to give people peace of mind.

“Failure to make these enhanced premium tax credits permanent wouldn’t just be a lapse in judgment for Congress, it would be a catastrophe for the estimated 3.8 million people who have gained insurance coverage due to this tax credit and would likely lose their coverage without it. Similarly, losing this enhanced premium tax credit would disproportionately impact communities of color, leaving those who are already marginalized by our health care system forced to either pay a higher premium or forgo coverage altogether,” said Davis. “People across the political spectrum agree – health care must be more affordable. Let’s make these enhanced premium tax credits permanent.” 

Enhanced premium tax credits were first introduced as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, and were extended as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. Should Congress fail to make them permanent before they expire in 2025, this would lead to a steep rise in premiums for people already struggling to afford their health care. Because of enhanced premium tax credits, average monthly premiums were 34% lower in 2024 than 2021 – and the average enrollee saved $700 in 2024. 

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About United States of Care
United States of Care is a nonpartisan organization committed to ensuring that everyone has access to quality, affordable health care.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Adam Wilkerson
(314) 852-7718
[email protected]