Senator Murray Urges GOP to Extend ACA Tax Credits Amid Premium Hikes

During a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing on health care affordability, Senator Patty Murray highlighted the Republican refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits. This refusal has contributed to a significant increase in health insurance premiums, affecting 22 million Americans nationwide, including over 216,000 in Washington state. Premiums for Marketplace health coverage are more than doubling on average, threatening coverage for millions over the next decade. Senator Murray emphasized that the window to prevent these premium hikes has passed and that the only viable solution now is a clean, one-year extension of the ACA tax credits along with a longer open enrollment period. She criticized Republicans for not engaging in negotiations earlier in the year when reforms could have mitigated soaring premiums. Murray pointed to previous bipartisan negotiations that were ultimately derailed, underscoring the difficulty of reaching consensus. Witnesses at the hearing, including health coverage advocates and physicians, affirmed that recent GOP-backed Medicaid and ACA cuts have not improved affordability. Senator Murray also expressed concern about the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)'s upcoming meeting, where discussions regarding the childhood vaccine schedule and Hepatitis B vaccines will take place. She criticized the lack of oversight of Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy's decisions concerning vaccination policies and the firing of the CDC Director. Senator Murray has consistently advocated for extending ACA tax credits through legislation and public engagement, aiming to address the escalating health care cost crisis. Her efforts include introducing bills to make these tax credits permanent and leading initiatives during government shutdowns to protect health coverage. The ongoing political impasse continues to exacerbate health care affordability challenges for millions of Americans.