Teresa Acosta: “Trying to punt this issue further down the line isn’t going to help anyone. And in the long term, not having those subsidies extended is going to hurt millions of people.”
Georgians are feeling the consequences of Rep. Buddy Carter and Rep. Mike Collins’ decision to shut down the government instead of protecting affordable health care. Yesterday, WSB-TV spotlighted how their decision to let ACA tax credits expire and skyrocket health care premiums is hurting a small business owner.
Teresa Acosta is a small business owner and single mother of three who is closing her small business to protect her family’s health care after learning that she could be one of the 1.4 million Georgians who could see their premiums rise by up to 40% if the subsidies are not extended.
Of the Georgians who get their insurance on the ACA Marketplace, 95% rely on the subsidies to afford their plans.
Key Quotes:
- Teresa Acosta: I’m somewhat risk averse and just seeing what was coming down the pike…
- Eryn Rogers, WSB-TV: She made the difficult decision to close her five-year-old catering company, Renzo’s Fire, and look for a full-time job with benefits.
- Teresa Acosta: I get emotional when I talk about it…
- Eryn Rogers, WSB-TV: Acosta has a son with Type 1 diabetes and says she couldn’t stand the uncertainty or afford her premiums possibly doubling.
- Teresa Acosta: It wasn’t worth risking his health to keep my business open, so I made that decision.
- Eryn Rogers, WSB-TV: Now the business she built is in boxes in her basement.
- Teresa Acosta: Trying to punt this issue down further down the line isn’t going to help anyone. And in the long term, not having those subsidies extended is going to hurt millions of people.
- Wendy Corona, WSB-TV: So many people affected on so many levels here…