'WORRISOME SPIRAL': AMERICANS FACE PROSPECT OF UNAFFORDABLE COSTS IF CONGRESS FAILS TO EXTEND THE HEALTH CARE TAX CREDITS

The following information was released by the America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP):

s for millions" of Americans.

One American they spoke with, "Celia Monreal [of Tyler, Texas,] worries every day about the cartilage loss in her husband's knees. Not just because it's hard for her to see him in pain but also because she knows soon their health care costs could skyrocket."

"Monreal, 47, and her husband, Jorge, 57, rely on the Affordable Care Act marketplace for health coverage. If Congress doesn't extend certain ACA tax credits set to expire at the end of the year, their fully subsidized plan will increase in cost, putting it out of reach. Without insurance, they won't be able to afford his expected knee replacement surgeries, much less the treatment they need for other issues, like her chronic high blood pressure and his high cholesterol."

"It worries me sometimes, because if you're not healthy, then you're not here for your kids," Monreal said. "It's a difficult decision, because, OK, do I spend $500 on a doctor's visit or do I buy groceries?"

"Monreal's husband will likely need both knees replaced, which will force him to take time off his job filling concrete. On their already tight $45,000 joint annual income, budgeting for themselves and their five children will become that much harder."

"The concern over their budget and the uncertainty over their health care coverage send her thoughts into yet another worrisome spiral with just two weeks until open enrollment begins."

"Those are the types of choices facing the millions of Americans whose state or federal marketplace health insurance plans will be up for renewal in November," the AP reports. "The enhanced premium tax credits that have made coverage more affordable for low- and middle-income enrollees for the last four years will expire this year if Congress doesn't extend them. On average, that will more than double what subsidized enrollees currently pay for premiums next year, according to an analysis by health care research nonprofit KFF."

"More than 24 million people have ACA health insurance, a group including farmers, ranchers, small business owners and other self-employed people who don't have other health insurance options through their work. The enhanced premium tax credits set to expire this year have made costs far more manageable for many of them, allowing some lower-income enrollees to get health care with no premiums and higher earners to pay no more than 8.5% of their income. If the tax credits expire, annual out-of-pocket premiums are estimated to increase by 114% an average of $1,016 next year, according to the KFF analysis."

"The change may also strain hospitals, since more uninsured people will need emergency care they can't afford. That could lead to hospital closures or cost increases."

If Congress fails to extend the tax credits, millions of Americans will experience the unaffordable costs and consequences throughout 2026, whether by paying steeply higher out-of-pocket costs for their coverage each month or through the ongoing stress of having lost the coverage that provided them with access to high-quality care at a price they could afford.

As key stakeholders, including health plans and officials who run the state-based marketplaces, have made clear, there is still time to protect Americans from the largest spike in health care costs in history and to ensure consumers see immediate relief in 2026.

Go Deeper: Get the facts on the health care tax credits here.

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