Gareth Fenley: “It is absolutely essential. There’s just no way around it.”
After ACA open enrollment began this weekend, a constituent of GOP U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Mike Collins’ congressional district spoke out against his vote to shut down the government instead of protecting affordable health care as 1.4 million Georgians brace to see their premiums skyrocket.
While Collins hasn’t bothered to show up to work in DC for over 46 days, his constituents face potential average ACA premium increases of 345% for an average 60-year-old couple.
95% of the Georgians who get their insurance on the ACA Marketplace rely on the tax credits to afford their plans.
- [Andrew Tyree, WANF] Open enrollment is now underway for more than a million Georgians buying coverage through the public marketplace.
- [Becky Sattero, WANF] But this year there’s added uncertainty. The tax credits that make coverage more affordable may not be extended. Atlanta News First’s Abby Kousouris explains.
- [Abby Kousouris, WANF] 64 year-old Gareth Fenley shopping for next year’s health plan during open enrollment. She qualifies for and receives a monthly premium tax credit under the Affordable Care Act that helps keep her insurance within reach.
- [Gareth Fenley] There’s my APTC of $1,213.
- [Abby Kousouris, WANF] But this week she was stunned. Her monthly premium had doubled and her ACA tax credit, totaling $1200 a month, she may or may not get. That’s now up to Congress.
- [Gareth Fenley] I think the U.S. has amazing health care, but the financing system for it is just kind of bizarre and broken.
- [Abby Kousouris, WANF] Right now, nearly one and a half million Georgians rely on these tax credits to afford their insurance and 93% of Georgians on the ACA marketplace depend on those credits to keep their coverage affordable.
- [Gareth Fenley] These primary care emergency rooms, they’ll end up closing in rural areas like where I live.
- [Abby Kousouris, WANF] The debate over these credits is now the center of the government shutdown. Democrats say extending them is urgent. Republicans argue the pandemic-era subsidies were meant to be temporary and that keeping them allows higher income households to receive taxpayer-funded assistance.
- [Abby Kousouris, WANF] Fenley worries what would happen if she gets really sick or hurt.
- [Gareth Fenley] It is absolutely essential. There’s just no way around it. I can’t see our country sustaining our health care system and economy and well-being.
- [Abby Kousouris, WANF] Open enrollment runs through January 15th. If Congress doesn’t act, experts warn that thousands of Georgians could be priced out or lose coverage early next year.