More than 30 patient advocacy organizations have issued a warning about the potential loss of health coverage for millions of Americans due to Congress's failure to renew enhanced premium tax credits (eAPTCs). These tax credits, which help make health insurance more affordable, are set to expire. Insurance companies have begun sending out notices for 2026 plan year premiums that reflect significant increases.
According to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, if Congress waits until December to act, approximately 1.5 million people could lose their health coverage.
The coalition of groups released a joint statement: “Millions of Americans will begin to see—and feel—the potential repercussions of Congressional inaction—as insurance companies begin to issue premium notices this month that, on average, will increase by 114%. Healthcare that people have come to count on as affordable will suddenly feel out of reach."
They continued: “The Partnership to Protect Coverage has repeatedly called on Congress to act swiftly to reauthorize the enhanced advanced premium tax credits that are not only essential to the stability of the market, but also ensure patients can access timely, affordable care.”
The organizations emphasized the broad impact: “The stakes are enormous: small business owners, farmers, early retirees and—critically—patients living with serious health conditions all stand to lose. Without a clean extension of these tax credits, patients and consumers will pay a price they cannot afford: being uninsured.”
They noted that open enrollment begins November 1 and higher rates will take effect immediately. “This is not an ‘end-of-year’ problem as open enrollment begins on November 1 with higher rates. With every day that goes by, more Americans will make the gut-wrenching choice to forego health insurance because their premiums are skyrocketing. At this point, only Congress can remedy this problem—and expediency matters.“
The statement concluded: “Congress must not fail patients twice. It’s already too late; don’t let it be too little. Patients and families need certainty, stability and protection from devastating increases in healthcare costs. And they need it yesterday.”
Among the signatories were national organizations such as the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, National Alliance on Mental Illness, March of Dimes, Muscular Dystrophy Association and others.
