Cantwell: Millions of Americans Will Be Forced To Forego Health Insurance If Congress Doesn’t Act Now

Cantwell: Millions of Americans Will Be Forced To Forego Health Insurance If Congress Doesn't Act Now

2026 health insurance open enrollment begins TOMORROW for nearly all states, including WA; GOP's refusal to negotiate an extension of the healthcare tax credits means insurance shoppers are facing sky-high premiums; For many middle-class couples in WA, ACA exchange premiums will rise an average of $1,000+ per month in 2026 for the exact same coverage - in 7 counties, the average premium will more than double

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, delivered a speech on the Senate floor a few days before the opening of the 2026 health insurance open enrollment period that could be a financial shock for many American families.

Tomorrow, insurance shoppers who purchase their own health care coverage - a group that includes small business owners, self-employed people, and freelancers - will start locking in sky-high premium rates due to Republicans' continued refusal to negotiate on ways to make healthcare more affordable, including an extension of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, which helps lower health insurance premiums for those who purchase coverage on the open market.

"On Saturday, November 1, millions of Americans are going to go online to sign up for their 2026 Affordable Care Act health insurance plan," Sen. Cantwell said. "For about 5 million Americans, including 80,000 in my state, they will probably be forced to say, 'I just can't afford health insurance anymore.'"

"These costs are adding up on American families," she continued. "[With] the rise in inflation we've seen since January of this year, households are trying to decide whether they take care of health care, or groceries, or electricity."

"I'm asking my colleagues: Let's roll up our sleeves. Let's work to lower these costs."

Video of her full speech can be viewed HERE; a transcript is HERE.

Unless Congress acts urgently, Americans who purchase coverage on the open market will end up locked into new unaffordable rates in 2026. For nearly all states, the open enrollment period begins on Nov. 1 (with the exception of Idaho, which began on Oct. 15).

Last week, Sen. Cantwell released a case study showing the actual, shocking increase in health premiums for a sample middle-class family across all 39 WA counties in real dollars: The average increase across all 39 WA counties is $1,049/month or $12,590/year.

For example, this case study found that the sample couple would see their monthly premium increase by $960/month if they live in King County; $991/month if they live in Spokane County; and a whopping $1,097/month if they live in Clark County. The results were determined using the WA Healthplanfinder's estimate tool with prices generated for the least expensive 2025 plan in each county that is still available in that county in 2026. The sample family used was a married couple, the man aged 60 and the woman aged 55, with a household income of $120,000/year, who purchase health insurance on the ACA marketplace exchange.

The full county-by-county breakdown of price increases for the sample couple can be found HERE.

Earlier this month, Sen. Cantwell also released a data analysis showing a county-by-county breakdown where of Washingtonians will be hit hardest if Republicans continue refusing to negotiate an extension of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits. According to the data, there are seven counties where the average health insurance premium is set to more than double next year assuming the Enhanced Premium Tax Credit is allowed to lapse. All seven of these hardest-hit counties are in rural regions east of the Cascades: Yakima, Grant, Adams, Franklin, Douglas, Chelan, and Ferry counties. A one-pager on the data can be viewed HERE.

READ MORE:

The Tri-City Herald: Health insurance could double for thousands in Tri-Cities and Eastern WA

The Olympian: With expiring health-tax credits, here's how much premiums may rise in WA counties

KOMO: Democrats: WA health care premiums to 'skyrocket' without key tax credit

The Washington State Standard: Sticker shock: WA health insurance buyers confront steep price hikes

Sen. Cantwell urged her Senate colleagues to act by highlighting how the dramatic price hikes aren't exclusive to Washington state - they're happening all across the country. She compiled examples of price increases for typical families and individuals in Alabama, Texas, and Ohio.

At 12 a.m. on Oct. 1, the deadline for Congress to pass a new budget bill expired, triggering a federal government shutdown. Republican lawmakers refused to negotiate with Democrats on how to avoid sharp healthcare cost spikes next year, including extending the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits under the Affordable Care Act - the primary request of Democrats that would help reverse healthcare costs set to spike due to policy choices made in President Donald Trump's Big Ugly Bill - and fell short of the 60 votes needed to pass a new budget. Moreover, Speaker Mike Johnson has kept the House of Representatives out of session entirely - keeping the House out of session for the whole month of October. Plus, today it was announced that the House will not be in session to start next week, as previously scheduled.

In the days leading up to the shutdown, Sen. Cantwell also sent a letter to President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries last week urging them to act before the open enrollment period begins.