According to a news story from Public News Service, millions of Americans face losing health care coverage, or much higher premiums, if Congress elects not to extend Biden-era Affordable Care Act insurance subsidies. The move will affect as many as 156,000 Iowans.
Vaishu Jawahar, director of policy programs with the nonprofit Protect Our Care, says at least 600 hospitals face closing as a result of historic Medicaid cuts earlier this year, and the pending elimination of health insurance subsidies is having a dramatic effect on Americans’ ability to afford basic coverage.
“Open enrollment has been happening since Nov. 15 and working families are logging on to healthcare.gov ,” says Jawahar. “and they’re seeing that their premiums have doubled or tripled if they were going to stay on the same plan, the average American is going to see their premium increase by $1,000 annually.”
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says the average American family who takes advantage of subsidies will see premiums rise by at least $700 a year. The Trump administration has said it is working to reduce waste and fraud in social service and insurance programs.
Amy Adams, spokesperson with Protect Our Care in Iowa, says many families are facing difficult choices between basic necessities.
“Do they go without care because they can’t afford it?” says Adams. “Do they choose a plan with sky-high deductibles that leaves them one illness away from overwhelming medical debt? No one should have to make choices like that in America, and certainly not here in Iowa.”
U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, R-IA, has backed a two-year extension on subsidies, but has pushed for imposing income limits to qualify.
