Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) underscored the dramatic harm of President Trump’s megabill on Washington families’ access to health coverage during a roundtable with patients, providers, advocates, and state officials. The law, which passed Congress with only Republican votes, will result in a 65 percent increase in health insurance premiums next year for WA Health Benefits Exchange enrollees who received enhanced federal tax credits.

The average Washingtonian saves $1,330 a year because of the credits. Over 216,000 people in Washington currently receive them. 80,000 are expected to drop their coverage because of the premium increases starting in January. Including the cuts to Medicaid, over 330,000 Washingtonians are expected to lose their health coverage because of the law.

“Rising health care costs are one of the biggest concerns I hear about from our community. They are some of the fastest-rising prices in America right now. Trump’s megabill is going to rip health coverage away from 80,000 people in our state by raising premiums on their coverage to unaffordable levels,” said DelBene. “Today, I heard directly from the patients and providers who will be most impacted by this law. I remain committed to driving down health care costs and protecting Washingtonians who benefit from these successful programs.”

“As the only community health center in Bothell, our goal is to reduce barriers to ensure our patients can access the care they need. One of the barriers many of our patients face is the lack of medical insurance due to the high cost of premiums. Affordable Care Act subsidies are a vital support that can make insurance coverage affordable to more folks in our community. Without subsidies, health insurance coverage will remain out of reach for many in our community who will consequently have more barriers to their care with less access to those additional resources,”  said Antonio Diaz-Carrera Business Director, HealthPoint Bothell. “We know that patients without coverage often forgo necessary care, waiting until they are very ill to seek care, often needing to choose between paying for medical care or for other essentials like housing, transportation, or food.”

“Everyone deserves access to high-quality, affordable health coverage. But without support from the White House and Congressional Republicans to extend the enhanced premium tax credits, thousands of Washingtonians will find the coverage they purchase for themselves on the Exchange too expensive to afford and will be forced to spend more of their household income on health care rather than groceries, rent and other essentials,” said Hiroshi Nakano, Board Member, Washington Health Benefit Exchange. “Middle-class families are already struggling. Congress must act now to extend these essential tax credits.”

The enhanced premium tax credits were established under the American Rescue Plan in 2021 and extended through 2025 in the Inflation Reduction Act. They helped more than double enrollment in Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges to over 24 million nationally in 2025. The enhanced credits are set to expire this year unless they are extended by Congress. Republicans and President Trump have shown little interest in extending them.

During the roundtable, DelBene was joined by WA Health Benefits Exchange enrollees from Woodinville and Kirkland, providers from HealthPoint and Overlake Medical Center & Clinics, and leaders from the Community Health Plan of Washington, the WA Health Benefit Exchange, and Governor Ferguson’s office.

More information about the impact of the health insurance subsidies in Washington can be found here.

More information about Trump’s megabill can be found here.