Washington D.C — With the Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment period beginning last weekend, millions of Americans are now staring down sky-high premium increases thanks to congressional Republicans’ decision to shut down the government rather than extend health care tax credits.
Lawmakers who were already being bombarded with Unrig Our Economy ads exposing their votes to cut their constituents’ health care are now seeing local news stories highlighting the rising costs of health care.
“Congressional Republicans can run, but they can’t hide from Americans’ backlash to their health care cuts,” said Unrig Our Economy Campaign Director Leor Tal. “Now, all Iowans, Arizonans, New Yorkers, New Jerseyans, and Pennsylvanians have to do is open a newspaper to see just how much their lawmakers cost them by voting to gut Medicaid and now refusing to extend health care tax credits. It’s time for congressional Republicans to change course and lower their constituents’ health care costs instead of putting billionaires first.”
Stories from key districts across the country:
In Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks’s (IA-01) District:
(Watch Unrig’s latest ad highlighting Congresswoman Miller-Meek’s health care cuts here.)
Des Moines Register: Iowans will soon face higher health insurance premiums. Some may decide to go without.
Abbey Paxton has spent hours sitting with financial advisers in recent months, puzzling over how to fit skyrocketing health insurance premiums into her family’s 2026 budget.
Paxton, a 37-year-old mother of two who owns a bookstore in Des Moines, said her family’s high deductible plan purchased through the federal Affordable Care Act Marketplace is slated to increase 10% next year and estimates the jump will cost a couple hundred extra dollars per month.
Even with insurance through the ACA Marketplace, Paxton still paid $10,000 in medical bills to give birth in 2021 to her son with no serious complications. And when she had complications including a preeclampsia scare with her second child’s birth, she relied on Medicaid coverage that helped her family avoid steep medical costs.
In Congressman Tom Kean Jr.’s (NJ-07) District:
(Watch Unrig’s latest ad highlighting Congressman Kean Jr.’s health care cuts here.)
New Jersey Monitor: Rates on NJ health insurance marketplace to skyrocket, state regulator warns
The impact will be broad. More than 510,000 New Jerseyans are enrolled in plans obtained through the state’s marketplace, and more than 466,000 of those receive the enhanced subsidies, the department said.
Overall, New Jersey expects to lose more than $500 million in federal premium assistance, state officials said. New Jersey will still provide $215 million in state assistance.
The increases could be far greater for families and individuals who are risky to insure.
In Congressman Juan Ciscomani’s (AZ-06) District:
(Watch Unrig’s latest ad highlighting Congressman Ciscomani’s health care cuts here.)
Tucson Sentinel: Tucson healthcare leaders warn federal cuts will increase costs & harm service
Meanwhile, Arizonans who buy insurance on the online Affordable Care Act marketplaces are expecting major sticker shock on Nov. 1, when rates for 2026 coverage are unveiled. The loss of COVID-era federal tax credits, combined with the general rising costs of private insurance plans, will mean prices will more than double for many Arizonans, according to estimates shared Friday by Sen. Mark Kelly..’Arizonans are already stretched thin with rising costs, and the last thing they need is to pay double or triple for their health insurance. This is what the fight in Washington is about—keeping health care costs from skyrocketing for working families.’
In Congressman Mike Lawler’s (NY-17) District:
(Watch Unrig’s latest ad highlighting Congressman Lawler’s health care cuts here.)
Daily Gazette (Hudson Valley): Obamacare Premiums Could Jump 30% as Subsidies Expire
Rates for plans sold through federal Obamacare marketplaces will rise, on average, by 30% next year, according to a new analysis from the health research group KFF. States that run their own marketplaces will see smaller, but still significant, average increases of 17%.
In Congressman Rob Bresnahan’s (PA-08) District:
(Watch Unrig’s latest ad highlighting Congressman Bresnahan’s health care cuts here.)
Keystone Newsroom: Why health care costs will skyrocket in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvanians all across the state are experiencing sticker shock as their health care premiums nearly double. Open enrollment is set to begin on Saturday. Nov.1 …Pennsylvanians all across the state are experiencing sticker shock as their health care premiums nearly double. Open enrollment is set to begin on Saturday. Nov. 1.”
To learn more about the campaign, visit UnrigOurEconomy.com or contact press@unrigoureconomy.com
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About Unrig Our Economy
Unrig Our Economy is a national campaign to fix the rules of our economy to make it work for working people. We know that when the middle class does well, all of us do well — which is why we’re fighting on behalf of working Americans and holding corporations, their wealthy executives, and the politicians who enable them accountable.