Opinion: Congress must act to expand health care tax credits for Alaskans

Updated: 10 hours ago Published: 10 hours ago

I know a neighbor who can put food on the table for her children, but doesn’t take them to the doctor because she doesn’t have insurance. I know another neighbor who is struggling to pay her rent because her husband can’t work due to cancer. As the state representative for Airport Heights, Mountain View and Russian Jack, I have spoken with many constituents who are forced to make difficult choices for their families because of the cost of health care. Although policymakers can’t control medical bills, we can make it easier to pay them.

Currently, Alaskans who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot obtain health insurance through their jobs can purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. Open enrollment for 2025 ends on January 15, and most uninsured Alaskans are actually eligible for federal tax credits, which makes a huge difference in a household’s monthly premium.

But unfortunately, without congressional action, tens of thousands of Alaskans with ACA coverage will be pushed back into the financial strain of unaffordable insurance bills.

What is happening? Well, in 2021, Congress reduced the cost of ACA premiums by expanding federal subsidies through enhanced measures. tax credits. Currently, 22,180 Alaskans are receiving enhanced tax credits, reducing their health insurance premiums by $867 per person per year. These enhanced credits, enacted by the American Rescue Plan and extended by the Inflation Reduction Act, will expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress acts next year.

If Congress fails to act through the budget reconciliation process or other legislation, the consequences for tens of thousands of Alaskans and our state’s economy could be devastating. Many Alaskans will choose to remain uninsured, delaying or foregoing critical medical care, resulting in higher costs for everyone else. Our state, already facing budget constraints, will see an increased reliance on state-funded public assistance programs as more Alaskans struggle to make ends meet.

The ACA reduced Alaska’s uninsured rate, federal subsidies made premiums affordable, and enhanced tax credits further solidified health care coverage in an era of rising costs.

I urge our congressional delegation to quickly expand these enhanced tax credits and provide economic certainty to the Alaskans who depend on them. Their extension is not just a question of health policy; it’s a matter of economic stability and human dignity for tens of thousands of Alaskans.

Rep. Genevieve Mina, D-Anchorage, represents District 19 in the Alaska House of Representatives.

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