Pennsylvania Independent: “More Than 496,000 Pennsylvanians on the State ACA Marketplace Will Pay an Average of $581 More a Year for Their Health Insurance”

January 7, 2026

PENNSYLVANIA —  Tomorrow, following months of tireless advocacy from working people across the Commonwealth and the nation, the House will vote on whether to bring back health care tax credits that kept care affordable for millions of Americans. Affordable Pennsylvania calls on Congressmen Ryan Mackenzie, Rob Bresnahan, and Scott Perry to support the return of these tax credits for their 20,000+ constituents who benefit from them.

"On January 1st, l paid $1,067 for my monthly health care premium. That is almost my entire Social Security payment - and nearly triple what my monthly premium was last year. Going uninsured isn't an option for me - after losing my thyroid to  cancer, I rely on regular care to survive," said Tracy Antrim of Emmaus. "These rising costs are out of control. On top of groceries, housing, and other basic necessities, how am I supposed to find more than $1,000/month for my health care? I'm calling on my congressman, Ryan Mackenzie, to do the right thing and vote to restore these health care tax credits so people like me can afford the care we need."

The three congressmen voted twice last year for funding packages that did not include an extension of the health care tax credits, which expired at the end of the year. After significant advocacy from Pennsylvanians in their districts - including local actions, affected constituents sharing their stories with local and national media, and a meeting with district staff - Reps. Mackenzie and Bresnahan signed onto the Democrats’ discharge petition to extend the tax credits for three years at the eleventh hour. Congressman Perry failed to support any measure to extend the tax credits, calling for Congress to let them expire, and even advocated for a total repeal of the ACA, putting health care at risk for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions and leading to massive cost increases.

Without these tax credits, health care costs have skyrocketed across the Commonwealth, with many forced to go unsinsured after being hit with premiums they can’t afford. Pennsylvanians in Rep. Bresnahan’s district are seeing 84% average increase in monthly premiums, while health care costs for Rep. Perry’s constituents in PA-10 are increasing by an average of 180%. In PA–07, Ryan Mackenzie’s constituents will face some of the highest rate hikes, with a district-wide average increase of 178% and Lehigh, Carbon, and Northampton Counties all facing average premium increases of more than $300/month.