Why health insurance premiums will rise 66% for 9,900 Whatcom County residents

Whatcom County residents who buy their own Affordable Care Act health insurance will see costs rise by 66% with the expiration of a tax credit, according to a report from U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell.

The rise comes from the expiration of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credit, which about 5% of Whatcom County residents — or 9,930 people — rely on to lower health insurance costs. It’s the third-highest percentage in the state.

The open enrollment period for ACA insurance begins Nov. 1, and Cantwell said she expects many to experience “sticker shock” when they start to shop for plans. She said Americans will pay a collective $23 billion more next year to maintain the same level of coverage they currently have.

In Washington specifically, Cantwell said residents are expected to pay an average $132 more per month to keep the same ACA plans. She said the premium rate increase is the single largest since 2018 and is around 10 times the rate of inflation.

“Time is of the essence if we don’t want to see double-digit increases in health insurance,” Cantwell said. “Acting later is too late. The White House and Congress should address this now.”

The expiration of tax credits and insurance prices is one sticking point for Democrats in the ongoing government shutdown. Cantwell outlined the issue and its impact nationwide in a letter to the president and congressional leaders in both parties.

She said that if Americans aren’t able to afford health insurance plans, they will instead get care in emergency departments, which will “drive up uncompensated care costs for our providers, increasing health care costs for everyone, and further straining our fragile health care system.”

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