Magaziner Hosts Telephone Town Hall on Health Care Affordability Crisis Amid Government Shutdown

WARWICK, RI - Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02)connected with more than 11,000 constituents from across Rhode Island's Second Congressional District during a telephone town hall focused on the ongoing health care affordability crisis and the federal government shutdown.

This town hall comes as Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year, which help 22 million Americans, including more than 40,000 Rhode Islanders, afford health insurance. The expiration of these credits, combined with nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts passed in July, will result in fewer people being covered and send a ripple effect throughout the health care system, driving up costs for everyone - regardless of their insurance type.

During the call, Magaziner emphasized the serious impact these cuts will have on Rhode Island families. For example, a family of four in Rhode Island earning $130,000 a year with insurance from the state health exchange will see their monthly health insurance costs rise by an average of nearly $7,000 per year if the ACA tax credits expire (source).

"Tonight's telephone town hall demonstrated that Rhode Islanders are still deeply concerned about the cost of living, from health care to groceries to energy costs, and cannot afford a partisan budget that causes health insurance costs to skyrocket," said Magaziner. "I value every opportunity to hear directly from my constituents and want Rhode Islanders to know that I remain committed to returning to passing a budget that will reopen the government and address the health care cost crisis."

Magaziner has hosted four telephone town halls and two in-person town halls this year.

You can watch a full recording of the full town hall event here.