Today, Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch voted against extending enhanced ACA premium tax credits that 100,605 Idahoans rely on to afford their health care. On December 15, Idaho becomes the first state in the nation where the ACA open enrollment window closes, and Idahoans will be the first to see the consequences of Republicans’ refusal to act. Without these credits, families are expected to see their monthly premiums jump by an average of 114%, and 25,000 Idahoans are projected to lose coverage altogether.
Republicans have no plan to lower health care costs. Meanwhile, Democrats put forward a common-sense, clean extension of the ACA tax credits — which nearly 75% of Americans support — but once again, Republicans have sacrificed everyday Idahoans to protect their billionaire tax cuts.
In response, Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea released the following statement:
“Idaho families are facing a health care crisis because of Donald Trump and his Republican allies, and today Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch chose to make it worse. Enhanced ACA tax credits make coverage affordable for over 100,000 Idahoans. If they expire, about 25,000 of our family members, friends, and neighbors will be forced to drop coverage while many more see their premiums double or triple. This is a matter of life and death for families already squeezed by housing, food, and child care costs. Instead of supporting a clean extension of tax credits to serve Idahoans, Crapo and Risch backed a failed idea that shifts costs and risk onto patients. Idaho’s Republican delegation keeps choosing billionaire tax cuts and fealty to Donald Trump over serving regular people, who overwhelmingly support these tax credits. Democrats stand ready to lower costs, protect coverage, and keep health care within reach for every Idahoan.”
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