GOVERNOR HEALEY DEMANDS THAT CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS VOTE TO EXTEND ACA CREDITS TO PREVENT HUGE SPIKES IN HEALTH CARE COSTS

The following information was released by the office of the Governor of Massachusetts:

Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll

Executive Office of Health and Human Services

Boston Governor Maura Healey is demanding that Congressional Republicans vote to extend Enhanced Premium Tax Credits under the Affordable Care Act to prevent health care costs for millions of Americans from skyrocketing. The United States Senate is expected to vote on Thursday. Governor Healey and the Massachusetts Health Connector also announced a new online portal at mahealthconnector.org/updates to help Massachusetts residents navigate these federal changes to their health insurance.

Earlier this year, President Trump and Congressional Republicans let these tax credits that 22 million Americans rely on to afford their health insurance expire. As a result, premiums will drastically increase next year, including for the hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents who get their insurance through the Health Connector. The average premium on the Marketplace will jump $1,300 annually, with tens of thousands of enrollees losing all subsidy. Some will see premiums increase as much as $10,000 or $25,000 next year as a result. In total, $425 million is being taken away and put back on Massachusetts consumers to pay.

"From the moment he took office, President Trump has been making costs go up for the American people from his tariffs to cutting SNAP to taking away heating assistance. Now, millions of Americans will see their health care costs skyrocket because he let the tax credits that people rely on to afford their insurance expire," said Governor Healey. "These are our small business owners, self-employed people, middle-class families and single parents. Women with breast cancer will lose access to treatment. People with heart disease won't get the care they desperately need. Children won't get the medicine they need for asthma. No one can afford this. We need President Trump and Congressional Republicans to do their jobs and vote to lower people's health costs on Thursday."

The Health Connector's new web portal makes it easier for residents to access cost information about health coverage options. It features a 'Get an Estimate' tool that makes it easy for people to see what plans and premiums may be available to them. The tool is anonymous, takes just a few minutes to complete and gives users a fast snapshot of available options, while providing flexibility to adjust information and see other potential results. People who need help finding their most affordable coverage option can find free, in-person assistance from a Navigator by searching for local help on the Health Connector website (mahealthconnector.org/navigators), and can also call Health Connector Customer Service at 1-877-MA-ENROLL Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

"Our enrollees and new applicants need information and a clear picture of what they are facing next year. The Get an Estimate tool is easy to use and provides details on available plans and premium prices that people need now," said Audrey Morse Gasteier, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Health Connector. "Taking a few minutes to use the tool is worth it for enrollees and new applicants to make sure they understand their options for next year."

The Health Connector's Open Enrollment period started on November 1 and runs through January 23, 2026. The deadline for coverage to start the New Year is December 23. There are more than 376,000 people in Health Connector coverage, including more than 328,000 people who get help paying for their health insurance through Premium Tax Credits.

The Senate vote on extending the tax credits is expected on Thursday. On Wednesday, Gasteier is scheduled to participate in a Senate hearing titled "The Cost of Inaction: Why Congress Must Extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits". The hearing on the eve of the vote will highlight the benefits of the tax credits and detail the harm to families and the health care system of not extending them past 2025.