Maryland Delegation Members Urge Republican Leaders to Reopen Government, Prevent Health Care Costs from Skyrocketing and Protect Rural Health Care Access

WASHINGTON - Yesterday, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks were joined by U.S. Representatives Johnny Olszewski, Sarah Elfreth, Glenn Ivey, Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, and Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.) to send a letterurging Republican leadership to reopen the government and prevent health care costs from skyrocketing for millions of Americans.

If Congress does not extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs), 4 million Americans will lose their ACA Marketplace coverage and premiums will more than double for millions of Americans in 2026. Overall, approximately 190,000 Maryland residents currently benefit from these tax credits. Absent Congressional action, premiums will increase by 35% on average for thousands of Marylanders and 30,000 Marylanders will be forced to drop coverage entirely. Moreover, rural communities will be disproportionally impacted by the historic cuts in the One Big Beautiful Act (OBBBA), including thousands of Marylanders who rely on Medicaid everyday for affordable and accessible care.

"Rising living costs continue to strain Marylanders, and health care expenses remain one of the heaviest burdens they face. The scheduled expiration of the ePTCs at the end of this year threatens the economic stability of Maryland families in every corner of our state. These enhanced tax credits substantially lower premiums for millions of Americans, including tens of thousands in Maryland," the lawmakers wrote. "The expiration of the ePTCs would deal a staggering blow to our constituents' financial well-being and overall health, one that Maryland families simply cannot afford."

"The challenges presented by the expiration of the ePTCs are exacerbated by the recent passage of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law by President Trump," they continued. "The implementation of OBBBA is projected to result in the loss of Medicaid and ACA coverage for approximately 242,000 Maryland residents."

"We have heard firsthand from working Maryland families who are already straining under the weight of rising prices. The expiration of the ePTCs, combined with the policy changes from the OBBBA, threatens to push many beyond their financial breaking point. We call on House Republican leadership to bring the House of Representatives back into session and we urge leadership to act swiftly to extend the ePTCs and protect access to affordable healthcare for Marylanders," the lawmakers concluded.

Read the letter.