Michigan Democrats Warn of Skyrocketing Health Insurance Costs Amid GOP Refusal to Extend ACA Tax Credits

Michigan Democrats gathered for a virtual press conference to sound the alarm on impending health insurance cost increases, pinning the blame squarely on Republican lawmakers for refusing to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits. The event, attended by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel, and Traverse City business owner Jodie Schanhals, highlighted the devastating impact of GOP actions on middle-class families.

According to Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, a 60-year-old couple in her district with a combined income of $82,000 would face a 164% increase in their health care insurance costs, reaching $11,250. Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Curtis Hertel took aim at Michigan Republicans, including Mike Rogers, John James, and Tom Barrett, for backing a "toxic agenda" that would "devastate middle-class families." Meanwhile, Jodie Schanhals, an ACA Marketplace enrollee, shared her own personal struggle, stating that without the ACA subsidy, her health care costs would increase by $1,200 next year.

Key Takeaways:

• The Michigan Democratic Party warns that hundreds of thousands of Michiganders will see their health insurance costs skyrocket due to the Republican refusal to extend ACA tax credits.
• A 60-year-old couple in Congresswoman Debbie Dingell's district with a combined income of $82,000 would face a 164% increase in their health care insurance costs, reaching $11,250.
• Every Michigan Republican in the U.S. House (John James, Jack Bergman, John Moolenaar, Bill Huizenga, Tim Walberg, Tom Barrett, and Lisa McClain) voted for the GOP tax law that failed to extend ACA tax credits.
• Mike Rogers, the failed GOP Senate candidate, "firmly supported" the Republican tax law that failed to extend ACA tax credits while giving tax handouts to millionaires.
• Jodie Schanhals, an ACA Marketplace enrollee, would face a $1,200 increase in her health care costs next year without the ACA subsidy.

Statistics:

• 164% increase in health care insurance costs for a 60-year-old couple in Congresswoman Debbie Dingell's district with a combined income of $82,000.
• $11,250: the expected increase in health care insurance costs for the aforementioned couple.
• $1,200: the increase in health care costs that Jodie Schanhals, an ACA Marketplace enrollee, would face without the ACA subsidy.

Sources:

• [The Michigan Democratic Party]
• [Congresswoman Debbie Dingell]
• [Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel]
• [Traverse City business owner and ACA Marketplace enrollee Jodie Schanhals]