FAH Executive Vice President of Public Affairs Charlene MacDonald released the following statement after the House Ways and Means Committee advanced its markup of its portion of the budget reconciliation bill, which failed to include an extension of the individual marketplace’s enhanced tax credits. The enhanced tax credits expire at the end of this year without Congressional action, causing 5 million Americans to lose coverage and leading to 20 million Americans seeing their premiums skyrocket by an average of 90 percent.

“As the House Ways and Means Committee advances a pro-growth tax agenda, they are leaving essential tax breaks for hardworking families on the table. The enhanced premium tax credits – which expire at the end of this year – provide American families with increased financial security and have made it possible for over 20 million working Americans to purchase health coverage on their own.

“With CBO estimating other provisions in the budget reconciliation bill could lead to over 7 million Americans losing coverage, extending these tax credits is critical to keeping affordable health coverage options in reach. Congress should put working families first; an extension of the Trump tax cuts should come with an extension of the enhanced premium tax credits.”

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