Friends,
Since the start of the new year, hundreds of thousands of South Carolinians who are enrolled in an Affordable Care Act Marketplace plan and receive tax credits have seen their monthly premiums on average double.
For a constituent in Charleston that I heard from, that means a premium that increased to $228/month from $46/month last year.
For Cynthia in Santee, who is retired and enrolled in a Marketplace plan until she is eligible for Medicare, that means a premium that went from $8/month to $114/month. (Confirmed use of her information)
Has your premium increased on your healthcare.gov Marketplace plan? I want to hear from you.
For months, the Republican Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, refused to hold a vote on a bill that would have prevented these cost increases for millions of Americans.
Finally, shortly before the holidays, a handful of Republicans joined with all Democrats on a petition that would force a vote on that bill.
That vote was last night. And guess what?
It passed 230-196. All Democrats voted Yes. All but 17 Republicans voted No.
Now, the bill heads to the Senate, where all but four Republicans voted against a similar bill last year. There are currently bipartisan conversations on a compromise bill, but sticking points remain.
Survey: Should the Senate pass a bill to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits and reverse these premium increases?
I hope my colleagues in the Senate heed the calls of constituents who can no longer afford health care coverage because of these steep price increases and pass this bill.
Everything already costs too much. Now, Republicans in Congress are pushing a policy that will make health care costs go up even more.
I’m going to keep fighting to reverse these cuts to the Affordable Care Act. And if your costs have already gone up, let me know so I can advocate for you.
Sincerely,
Jim