Reps. Sykes Votes Against Republican Bill that Fails to Extend Critical ACA Tax Credits

Reps. Sykes Votes Against Republican Bill that Fails to Extend Critical ACA Tax Credits

If the ACA Tax Credits expire, monthly premiums will skyrocket an average of $720 annually.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (OH-13) voted against the Republican-led continuing resolution that fails to address expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) Premium Tax Credits. In Ohio's 13th District, 32,000 people are covered by ACA healthcare plans. Of those, 29,000, or 90%, of people who receive healthcare coverage through the ACA utilize Premium Tax Credits to keep their monthly premiums low. If these tax credits are allowed to expire at the end of this year, monthly premiums will skyrocket an average of $720 annually.

Earlier this year, Aultman Health System announced that they will no longer offer some individual and small business ACA healthcare plans from the Marketplace in 2026 through AultCare. This decision was made in part due to the uncertainty regarding the extension of ACA Premium Tax Credits. This announcement will cause 6,000 people to lose their healthcare coverage, requiring those individuals to find new coverage for 2026.

"I could not support a bill that fails to extend critical healthcare tax credits that Ohioans depend on to keep their monthly premiums affordable. If my Republican colleagues allow these tax credits to expire, monthly premiums will increase by an average of $720 annually," said Rep. Sykes. "Our community is already feeling the negative effects of the uncertainty surrounding the extension of tax credits as more than 6,000 people will have to seek new coverage in 2026 because their plans will not be renewed. I will not support legislation that increases healthcare costs for my constituents or robs them of their coverage."

In addition to the threat of losing the ACA Premium Tax Credits, an ACA marketplace Final Rule finalized by the Trump Administration in June will shorten the open enrollment period, increase paperwork, create a $5 monthly junk fee, increase premiums, and increase the limit on out-of-pocket spending by 15 percent. This rule is projected to kick nearly 2 million people off their health insurance by raising costs and increasing the administrative burden for enrollees. Rep. Sykes introduced an amendment to this bill to prohibit this rule from taking effect and it was rejected along party-lines.

Much of this rule is currently being challenged in court in a lawsuit led by a group of cities and organizations representing health care professionals and small businesses, including the City of Columbus.