RENO, NV – This week, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) penned an op-ed in the Reno Gazette Journal condemning Washington Republicans for spiking healthcare costs for hardworking Nevada families by refusing to extend the ACA Premium Tax Credits.
Reno Gazette Journal: Washington Republicans just made health care more expensive
By Senator Jacky Rosen
Key Points:
- Last week, the Senate voted on a clean, three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits. We included no additional Democratic wish list items or poison pills — just a simple continuation of the tax credits that are currently helping nearly 100,000 Nevadans afford their own health insurance.
- I voted in support of this bill along with all of my Democratic colleagues because we know families are struggling with the high costs of living right now, and we cannot allow prices to go up even more. Unfortunately, nearly every Senate Republican voted against this bill, ensuring that the enhanced premium tax credits will expire at the end of this month and health care costs will go up for thousands right here in Nevada.
- Since the beginning of this year, Senate Democrats have been trying to work with Senate Republicans to extend these tax credits that we created back in 2021 with a Democratic majority in Congress.
- But Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress refused to take any action all year to stop an explosion in health care prices. In fact, Washington Republicans cut health care funding for hospitals and took Medicaid away from thousands of Nevadans who needed it to go see a doctor. In their latest assault on your ability to get medical care, Washington Republicans are going to increase health care costs even more.
- Open enrollment is happening right now, and Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans’ refusal to work with Democrats is translating into a painful reality for Nevadans who are logging on to Nevada Health Link and seeing premium prices up by an average of 26% compared to last year.
- In some cases, costs have more than doubled because of the expiration of the enhanced tax credits. These are small business owners, students, family caregivers — hardworking folks who are doing everything right but simply can’t afford to pay the astronomical new premiums.
- That’s why polls show there is overwhelming support for extending the enhanced premium tax credits among Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike. Disease doesn’t ask to see your voter registration. Life-altering accidents don’t only happen in blue states. Everyone deserves access to the care they need, and in the richest country in the world, cost shouldn’t be a barrier.
- Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have shown us time and time again where their priorities lie, and it’s never with working families sitting at their kitchen table trying to figure out which bills can get paid this month. Now, we’ve put them on the record — and Nevadans won’t forget who voted to raise their health care costs.
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