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Senator Patty Murray Slams Republicans Over 21 Percent Health Plan Rate Increase in Washington State

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee's senior member, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) has released a statement in response to the news that insurers in Washington state have been approved for a 21 percent rate increase for 2026 individual health plans on the state's exchange. Senator Murray, who helped pass the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits into law in 2021 and extend them in 2022, has introduced multiple pieces of legislation to make them permanent, including the Health Care Affordability Act. She has repeatedly pressed Republicans to take action on this issue, calling out their refusal to extend the ACA tax credits, which she claims will result in higher health care costs for families and small businesses in Washington state.

Key Takeaways:

  • Senator Patty Murray has criticized Republicans for their refusal to extend the ACA tax credits, which she claims will lead to a 21 percent average rate hike for health insurers in Washington state.
  • Senator Murray helped pass the enhanced ACA tax credits into law in 2021 and extend them in 2022, and has introduced the Health Care Affordability Act to make them permanent.
  • Republicans voted down Democratic efforts to extend health care tax credits for working families three times through an amendment, despite pursuing a reconciliation bill that showered trillions in tax cuts on the wealthiest people in the country.
  • Senator Murray joined the entire Senate Democratic caucus in introducing new legislation to repeal the devastating health care cuts to Medicaid and permanently extend the ACA premium tax credits.
  • The Health Care Affordability Act, introduced by Senator Murray, would make permanent the ACA premium tax credits that help middle-class families afford health care.
  • Senator Murray has held a press conference with Washington Health Benefit Exchange CEO Ingrid Ulrey to discuss the impact of Republicans' refusal to extend ACA tax credits on health care costs for families and small businesses in Washington state.

Statistics:

  • 21 percent: The average rate hike approved for health insurers in Washington state for 2026 individual health plans on the state's exchange.
  • 2021 and 2022: The years in which Senator Murray helped pass the enhanced ACA tax credits into law and extend them, respectively.
  • 2026: The year in which the 21 percent rate hike will take effect.
  • Trillions: The amount of dollars in tax cuts that Republicans provided in their reconciliation bill, while voting down efforts to extend health care tax credits for working families.
  • 3: The number of times Republicans voted down Democratic efforts to extend health care tax credits for working families through an amendment.

Sources:

  • News release from the Office of the Senator Patty Murray
  • Statement from Senator Patty Murray in response to the news of the 21 percent rate increase
  • Press conference with Washington Health Benefit Exchange CEO Ingrid Ulrey
  • Introduction of the Health Care Affordability Act by Senator Murray
  • New legislation introduced by Senator Murray to repeal health care cuts to Medicaid and extend ACA premium tax credits
  • Senate Republicans' reconciliation bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

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