Expiration of Enhanced Subsidies Impacts Tribal Marketplace Insurance Coverage

The expiration of enhanced subsidies is projected to cause over 120,000 tribal members in the U.S. to lose marketplace insurance coverage, which will impact tribal health clinics' ability to bill insurance and support patient care costs. Clarissa Sabattis, a leader from the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, highlights the strain on tribal clinics and rural hospitals, noting their limited capacity to absorb additional financial burdens from uncompensated care. Advocates emphasize that the termination of premium tax credits will affect the broader health system, not just the subsidy recipients, posing challenges for healthcare access and financing in tribal and rural communities.