Goodlander relentless in fight for lower health insurance

NASHUA – Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) recently met with local employers and healthcare providers to discuss the devastating effects of escalating health insurance premiums.

In 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act provided enhanced premium tax credits to more than 20 million Americans who received health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. However, those tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year unless Congress votes to extend the program, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

"You're all being asked to do more and more with less and less," she said during the Oct. 31 meeting at Harbor Care Health and Wellness Center. "What we've seen are the biggest cuts to healthcare in American history."

Goodlander also called attention to the convoluted process of Medicare Redetermination.

"It says you're missing Form 779, Google 'Form 779' and see where it takes you," she said. "It's impossible."

Charles Crush, administrator of Salemhaven, echoed Goodlander's sentiments.

"Medicare Redetermination is a nightmare," he said.

Crush said he has a staff of 147 employees and covers 70 percent of their health insurance, which is an $80,000 monthly expenditure. He is already apprehensive about next year's rates which are projected to increase by 40 percent.

"We're a solo nonprofit nursing home," he said. "I'm very worried, I still have to pay my bills."

Crush is also leery about reducing the 70 percent benefit as it may cause employees to leave Salemhaven. Many of them could not be replaced with someone of equal talent.

"Competition is tough in the healthcare market," he said.

Crush said Salemhaven currently houses 90 residents, 45 of whom rely on Medicaid.

Adria Bagshaw, vice president of W.H. Bagshaw, said her company currently pays 100 percent of employee healthcare premiums. However, she said her insurance costs are expected to climb by 38 percent. Bagshaw said it costs more to insure her employees than it does to purchase parts to run the business.

Bagshaw also said there is a machinist shortage in New Hampshire; therefore, the company is doing everything possible to retain its current staff.

"We can't afford to lose anyone," she said.

Amber Morgan, owner of Fortin Gage Flowers, said she is particularly generous with allocating sick time and mental health days.

"We push health first," she said.

Looking ahead, Morgan said many of her employees are worried they will not be able to afford higher insurance premiums and be forced to leave Fortin Gage.

Jerry Hadley, CFO of St. Joseph Hospital, said more patients are coming into the emergency room for conditions that are not emergencies. However, they can no longer go to their primary care physicians as their health insurance is no longer affordable. In contrast, the New Hampshire Hospital Association has stated that "New Hampshire's hospitals are committed to ensuring patients get the care they need regardless of their ability to pay for that care."

"The emergency room has been overflowing," said Hadley, adding that patients are waiting up to five hours to be seen. "That's unheard of."

Peter Ames, executive director of the Foundation for Healthy Communities, said he had half a dozen healthcare navigators on staff to assist residents with Medicare and Medicaid enrollment.

"We had a staff of six that was eliminated through federal budget cuts," he said.

Bobbie Bagley, Nashua's public health director, said there are city and school employees who do not receive health benefits as the premiums are too high. In April, Mayor James Donchess told the Board of Aldermen that the city's healthcare costs were projected to increase by $4.1 million in fiscal year 2026.

Ward 8 Alderman Derek Thibeault said he spent many years working in a UnitedHealthcare call center and that patients would always call with problems about claims not being paid.

"They're not calling because they have a headache — and this was three to four years ago," he said.

Thibeault also said he will be advocating for a greater investment from his colleagues on the board to assist residents with food costs and offset the monthly insurance premiums for city and school employees.