After Trump And Republicans Decimate Healthcare System To Pay For Billionaire Tax Breaks, Leader Schumer And Senators Wyden And Sanders Demand Leading Insurers Explain How[...]

Washington, D.C. - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), along with Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) sent the following letter to four major insurer groups demanding an explanation for how the Republicans' and Trump's extreme legislation, rulemaking, and failure to extend tax credits will affect American families and spike healthcare premiums in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), along with Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) sent the following letter demanding information on the expiration of the premium healthcare tax credits to four major insurance groups offering plans on ACA marketplaces: America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP), Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), and BlueCross BlueShield Association (BCBSA). After Republicans passed their billionaire tax breaks earlier this summer and Trump doubled down on the destruction with executive orders, the state of United States healthcare has worsened dramatically. Insurer groups must provide immediate and comprehensive information to American families so they can be educated about rising premiums and cost-sharing, and worsening coverage if Republicans do not agree to extend the ACA premium tax credits.

"Actions taken by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans threaten the outstanding progress achieved since the passage of the ACA. On July 4, 2025, the President signed the Republican budget reconciliation bill into law. This legislation cuts more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and the ACA and will terminate health insurance for more than 15 million people," the Senators wrote. "While Republicans in the House and Senate chose to extend nearly $4 trillion in tax cuts for billionaires and wealthy corporations, they did not extend the premium tax credits that over 20 million Americans rely on for their health coverage. These tax credits, used to make ACA Marketplace plans more affordable, will expire at the end of the calendar year. Failure to extend these tax credits will cause premiums to skyrocket by 75% on average, meaning Americans would be saddled with rising health care costs beginning January 1, 2026."

The Senators also included ten questions for the insurers that would provide insight into how this legislation and executive actions will affect coverage, affordability, and rural and other underserved communities. Millions of hardworking Americans, including families, small business owners, self-employed workers, family caregivers, people near retirement and people who are looking for work will all get letters in the mail in October detailing how they will be paying more to get less when it comes to health insurance. Insurers can and should provide this information earlier and explain what's at risk if premium tax credits are not extended.

"The Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans refused to extend premium tax credits in their reconciliation tax bill, used reconciliation to add red tape to ACA enrollment and re-enrollment that will destabilize state insurance markets, and further undermined enrollment and quality of coverage available on the ACA Marketplaces through their final rule. Taken together, these actions are sending the ACA Marketplaces into a death spiral. It is working American families who will suffer, with millions losing coverage, and millions more experiencing a drastic spike in their health care costs," the Senators continued. "As House and Senate Democrats work to avert this catastrophe-urging Republicans to act-we ask that you share information with Congress, and with your enrollees, that only your organizations and members can provide on the consequences of Republicans' ACA policies for the health and well-being of American families."

The full letter can be seen here.

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