Rep. Mackenzie Has Supported Health Care Cuts that Have Skyrocketed the Cost of Care

April 24, 2026

Bethlehem, PENNSYLVANIA - This week, Congressman Mackenzie’s local paper reported on a new Muhlenberg poll that found that more Pennsylvanians are unhappy with the state of health care this year. Over 25% of Pennsylvanians reported they or someone in their household struggled to access health care in the last year, citing affordability and access as the biggest barriers.

“Health care costs are skyrocketing and Pennsylvania families can’t keep up. Hundreds of thousands of people dropping insurance coverage they could afford last year should be a wake up call for the leaders who are supposed to be representing us,” said Gail of Bethlehem Township. “Congressman Mackenzie needs to be fighting for lower health care costs for his constituents. Cutting programs that help working families afford basic necessities to increase military spending betrays the many Pennsylvanians struggling with high costs in the Lehigh Valley. Congressman Mackenzie's job is to support the well-being of our community.”

After Congressman Mackenzie failed to extend critical health care tax credits that benefitted 21,000 of his constituents, Pennie costs jumped by an average of 102% across Pennsylvania and 178% in PA-07 - the second largest district-wide average premium increase in the Commonwealth. Earlier this week, Axios Philadelphia reported that around 45,000 Pennie enrollees have dropped their coverage between the January 31st close of open enrollment and April 9th, a nearly 50% jump in cancellations compared to the same time in 2025. This is in addition to the 85,000 people across the Commonwealth who already dropped their coverage during the open enrollment period from November through January.

In addition to those going uninsured, Pennsylvania has also seen a 30% increase in people enrolling in the lowest tier plans with lower monthly premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs. Experts warn that more uninsured and underinsured Pennsylvanians will lead to higher uncompensated care costs for hospitals, many of which will also be affected by the historic cuts to Medicaid in the Republican Tax Law that Rep. Mackenzie also supported.

On Monday, Affordable Pennsylvania led around 90 constituents to deliver a petition with nearly 200 constituent signatures to Congressman Mackenzie’s local Allentown and Bethlehem offices as part of the Stop Taking Our Health Care campaign. The petition criticizes Rep. Mackenzie for his health care cuts and calls on him to stop cutting Pennsylvanians’ health care.

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