Republicans Continue to Oppose Extension In Shutdown Negotiations

This week, as GOP U.S. Senate candidates Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins remain opposed to protecting affordable health care — and have not returned to D.C. for negotiations for the third week in a row — local media in the state has been flooded by Georgians who are speaking out against the devastating impacts that losing critical Affordable Care Act tax credits and seeing their premiums skyrocket by up to 40% would have on them, their families, and 1.4 million other Georgians. 

See for yourself:

CBS News: Families in Georgia brace for healthcare uncertainty as government shutdown reaches 10 Days
By Brian Unger | October 10, 2025

• Approximately 1.5 million Georgians who rely on ACA coverage are closely watching, as the potential loss of subsidies could lead to a significant increase in monthly premiums.
  
• One Smyrna family says that the uncertainty is already taking a toll. For Noel Keilhauer, a Special Olympics athlete living with a cognitive disability and colitis, stress can be debilitating.
  
• Her mother, Sharon Keilhauer, said her daughter’s medical care depends on consistent coverage through Medicaid and Medicare.
  
• Without those programs, the Keilhauers would have to turn to Georgia Access, the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace. But that, too, comes with uncertainty.
  
• Even with an annual income of $100,000, Sharon said her insurance premium alone could cost nearly $600 per month — roughly $7,000 a year — a price she says her family can’t afford.
  
• The Keilhauers’ situation mirrors what many Georgians could face. Combined with changes under former President Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” about 460,000 people in the state are expected to drop their Georgia Access health insurance next year and go uninsured.

WATCH HERE

• [Destin Howard, WPGA] Politicians have different visions for the Affordable Care Act and expanded premium assistance. It’s important to note that this assistance was already set to soon expire at the end of the year for millions […]
  
• [Teresa Acosta] My youngest has Type 1 diabetes, which, you know, there is no cure for it now and he requires a lot of medical care — a lot of medication, insulin, plus all the pump supplies that he uses to manage the disease. None of that is free. Doesn’t matter what insurance plan you have, it costs money. 
  
• [Destin Howard, WPGA] That’s Teresa Acosta, who says not knowing the future of the Affordable Care Act is even more concerning. Acosta says her monthly premiums are just under $200 for medical and an additional $145 a month for dental and vision. 
  
• [Teresa Acosta] The notion that we can wait until December 31st to figure this out — that’s not plausible for most families that I know. I need to know now what to expect in January. I know maybe that’s not how D.C. works, but that’s how my family works.

WATCH HERE

• [Quinlan Parker, WALB-TV] Georgia Democrats assembling a panel now of people who say they depend on that coverage. Teresa Acosta says, “Not knowing the future of the Affordable Care Act is most concerning.”
  
• [Teresa Acosta] My youngest has Type 1 diabetes, which, you know, there is no cure for it now and he requires a lot of medical care — a lot of medication, insulin, plus all the pump supplies that he uses to manage the disease.
  
• [Quinlan Parker, WALB-TV] Acosta says her monthly premiums are just under $200 for medical in addition to $145 a month for dental and vision.

• [Ansleigh Edwards, WGXA] The Affordable Care Act or ACA subsidy is being debated among Republicans and Democrats in Washington D.C. 
  
• [Ansleigh Edwards, WGXA] It’s a tax credit that lowers monthly health care premium costs for millions around the country but is set to expire at the end of this year. 
  
• [Ansleigh Edwards, WGXA] 1.2 million Georgians will be impacted if the tax credits are not extended. 
  
• [Ansleigh Edwards, WGXA] Judy Kreps is a small business owner who lives in Lumpkin County. She explained that she would pay more than $900 a month with an $8,000 deductible. 
  
• [Ansleigh Edwards, WGXA] Kreps says it hurts her to see how she and others might be impacted if the tax credit is not extended. 
  
• [Judy Kreps] It’s just pointless. They’re trying to do it to score political points and it’s just dumb and callous and cruel because one thing that we’ve learned since the ACA has been the law of the land, is that everybody wants quality, affordable healthcare. 
  
• [Ansleigh Edwards, WGXA] The House and the Senate have not been able to come to an agreement on either a final budget or a continuing resolution to keep the government paid temporarily.