NEPA Residents Rallied to Protect Affordable and Accessible Care

PENNSYLVANIA - Monday, NEPA community members came together to urge their elected leaders, including Congressman Rob Bresnahan, to stop health insurance costs from rising by permanently extending the enhanced health care tax credits.

“The health insurance that I purchase through Pennie is something I work hard to pay for. I’m not asking for a handout - I’m asking for a return on the investment I make by paying my taxes. I’m asking for affordable, reliable healthcare coverage,” said rally attendee and PA-08 constituent Michelle Rothenbecker. “Why is it okay for my representatives like Senator McCormick and Congressman Bresnahan to receive government-subsidized health insurance but not their constituents? I am calling on my legislators to show up for their constituents and fight for lower costs, including permanently extending this enhanced tax credit that makes health care accessible and affordable.”

In PA-08, 28,752 Pennsylvanians are enrolled in Pennie. 23,000 residents of the district benefit from the enhanced tax credits. If Congress allows these tax credits to expire, monthly costs for Pennie enrollees would increase by 82% on average. The average expected premium increase for the district if these tax credits expire is 71%.

Earlier this month, Congressman Bresnahan signed onto a bill to temporarily extend enhanced health care tax credits for one year, letting them expire in January 2027. Then, Congressman Bresnahan voted last week to continue cuts to Medicaid and increase health care costs by supporting the Republican budget.

Congressman Rob Bresnahan even praised the new rural health fund created under the GOP’s tax and spending law - failing to acknowledge how the $50 billion program will not adequately address the significant gaps in care caused by his cuts to Medicaid.

Constituents are calling on him to stop delaying the cost increase and stop prioritizing tax breaks for billionaires, and instead fight to reverse Medicaid cuts and lower health care costs for NEPA families by permanently extending health care tax credits.

WBRE/WYOU: Residents rally to protect the ACA

Scranton Times-Tribune: Rally in Scranton urges NEPA lawmakers to keep health care affordable

• As a small-business owner, Michelle Rothenbecker has relied on the federal Health Insurance Marketplace for her family’s health care insurance.

• The Bear Creek Twp. resident was one of around 10 people who rallied outside the downtown offices of Republican U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick and U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-8, Dallas Twp., Monday afternoon urging them to extend the credit and preserve federal health care programs like Medicaid. Many of them carried signs in support of preserving health care coverage.

• Republicans are divided on extending the credit, with many opposed and some open to keeping them, as many of their constituents could see steep hikes in coverage if the subsidies are allowed to lapse.

• Anthony Gratter, a local organizer for Affordable Pennsylvania, said 150,000 people in the state could lose insurance and there would be an 82% increase in costs for premiums if the tax credits expire.

• “We need a budget that reverses the devastating cuts to Medicaid and permanently extends the enhanced tax credits because health care isn’t a privilege for the wealthy, it’s actually a right for every family living in this country,” said Scranton resident Dwayne Heisler, campaign director for the Pennsylvania Policy Center.

FOX56: Protesters gather outside Rep. Bresnahan's Scranton office

• Speakers warned of a looming government shutdown and how they feel it will impact the Affordable Care Act Marketplace and SNAP benefits. They say they are unhappy with how both Rep. Bresnahan and Senator McCormick voted on a recent tax bill, and their lack of transparency.

• “Regardless of how many people are here each and every time that we come out, there are still thousands and thousands of people who are concerned that their livelihood is going to go away next year, they’re not going to have enough money to pay their bills or the impact of their money, and they won’t have as much purchasing power,” said Michelle Rothenbecker, Chief of Staff for Action Together NEPA.