Massachusetts Urges Senate to Extend ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Amid Premium Hikes

Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts is urging Congressional Republicans to vote for the extension of Enhanced Premium Tax Credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to prevent significant increases in health insurance premiums for millions of Americans, including hundreds of thousands in Massachusetts. The Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, which many Americans rely on to make health insurance affordable, expired earlier this year after not being renewed by the previous administration and Congressional Republicans. This expiration is projected to cause an average premium increase of $1,300 annually on the Health Insurance Marketplace, with some individuals facing increases as high as $10,000 to $25,000. These changes will shift approximately $425 million in costs onto Massachusetts consumers, impacting small business owners, self-employed individuals, and families. In response, the Massachusetts Health Connector has launched a new online portal to aid residents in understanding and navigating the changes to their health insurance options. The portal includes a 'Get an Estimate' tool that allows users to anonymously explore different health plans and premium costs quickly, helping enrollees and applicants to make informed decisions during the Open Enrollment period. The Health Connector also provides access to free, in-person assistance through local Navigators and customer service support to ensure consumers can find the most affordable coverage options. The Open Enrollment period for the Health Connector runs from November 1 to January 23, 2026, with a coverage start deadline of December 23. Currently, more than 376,000 individuals are covered through the Health Connector, with over 328,000 receiving financial assistance through Premium Tax Credits. The Massachusetts Health Connector emphasizes the importance of early use of their tools to understand available coverage and premiums for the upcoming year. A Senate vote on the extension of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits is scheduled for Thursday, with a Senate hearing titled "The Cost of Inaction: Why Congress Must Extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits" to be held on the eve of the vote. This hearing aims to highlight the positive impacts of these tax credits and the potential financial and healthcare access harms if they are not extended beyond 2025. Massachusetts officials stress the critical nature of the vote for maintaining affordable healthcare access for a significant portion of the population.