John,

Health care costs for millions of people are about to skyrocket, unless Congress acts.

When Congress passed its Big Brutal Bill, they didn’t just cut $1 trillion from Medicaid and SNAP. They also failed to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits, which have been keeping health care costs down for millions of people on the ACA marketplaces.

Health insurance companies have already requested premium increases starting January 1, with payments expected to rise by over 75% on average, and in a dozen states, costs will more than double.¹

All this week, CHN has been analyzing new data on poverty, income, and health insurance being released by the federal government and states. The bad news? The data shows that inequality is rising and people are already starting to lose Medicaid.² The good news? The Affordable Care Act’s low-cost premiums are making it possible for people to stay insured. Although Congress passed trillions in tax breaks for the rich in the Big Brutal Bill, they did not extend the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credit, which will expire at the end of this year. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that allowing this subsidy to expire will result in over 4 million people becoming uninsured.³ Millions more will face painful increased premium costs.⁴

With Congress planning a vote this month to keep the government running, we are demanding they address rising health costs and undo the damage of their recent budget package, and this includes making the enhanced ACA premium tax credits permanent.

Click here to send a message to your senators and representative and demand they include, and pass, the enhanced ACA premium tax credit in their government funding bill this month.

Congress and the president ran on a promise to lower costs for working people. But so far, they haven’t lifted a finger to address rising costs on health care, food, housing, or other daily essentials. And on top of the biggest cuts to basic needs programs in history, the Trump Administration is clawing back much-needed funds that were part of bipartisan spending deals—one of many attacks on our communities.

In addition, the House voted this week to authorize programs for the Department of War(!), with its nearly $1 trillion a year overstuffed budget including plenty of giveaways to Pentagon contractors.  

Why can Congress always seem to find funding to pad the pockets of weapons contractors and the ultra-wealthy, but it can never seem to find enough to ensure adequate health care and nutrition for vulnerable families?

There is an opportunity now for Congress to prevent some of the looming losses. Republicans and Democrats alike are starting to sound the alarm on rising health costs along with the impact of massive cuts to health coverage, and are beginning to recognize the extent of the harm if the ACA enhanced premium tax credit expires.

Send a message to Congress right now demanding they address health costs and renew the ACA enhanced premium tax credits in the must-pass government funding bill this month.

Thank you for taking action today, fighting for policies that uplift our communities.

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, CHN Action

¹ How much and why ACA Marketplace premiums are going up in 2026
² Declines in Medicaid Coverage Rates in 30 States Drove Up State Uninsured Rates From 2023 to 2024
³ CBO emails re House Energy and Commerce Committee reconciliation scores
⁴ Why your health insurance copays, deductibles and premiums will probably surge next year