Article Summary –
Lynn Weidner, a caregiver from Allentown, works over 80 hours a week for $14 an hour without benefits and depends on Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits to afford her health insurance, which is now set to increase significantly due to congressional Republicans not extending the enhanced tax credits. If the credits expire, around 20 million Americans, including Weidner and Easton resident Laura Cummings, could see their ACA premiums more than double, leading to potential loss of insurance coverage and a return to financial hardship. Democratic and some Republican lawmakers are pushing for a vote to extend the tax credits, but without immediate action, people like Weidner and Cummings will face dire consequences, such as inability to afford necessary health care and medications.
Lynn Weidner juggles multiple caregiving roles, working over 80 hours weekly in Allentown as a paid caregiver for a man with cerebral palsy, while also caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s and her 16-month-old niece. She earns $14 per hour without benefits, relying on the Affordable Care Act marketplace for health insurance to treat her iron deficiency anemia.
Facing a check engine light and impending dental work, Weidner’s health insurance cost is poised to jump from $400 to $700 in January. This spike follows congressional Republicans’ refusal to extend the enhanced ACA tax credits that began in 2021 during COVID’s early days when many lost jobs and insurance.
As the tax credits expire in December, half a million people in Pennsylvania and 20 million nationwide could see their premiums more than double in 2026. Millions might lose coverage unless Congress acts to renew these credits.
“The Affordable Care Act saved my life,” says Weidner, also a SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania board member. “The tax credits made my insurance affordable. Without them, I’d struggle, as my income is slightly too high for much assistance but not quite enough to manage on my own.”
Before ACA enrollment, Weidner was uninsured and unable to afford necessary care. Now, she fears rising costs might again leave her unable to pay for health care. “I don’t want to return to survival mode,” she said, recalling past financial struggles.
The Senate recently failed to advance legislation to extend these credits, but a discharge petition by House Democrats, joined by some Republicans, aims to force a vote on a three-year extension. Although lawmakers have enough signatures for a vote, it might not happen until January, after credits expire. They urge House Speaker Mike Johnson to expedite the vote.
Weidner is uncertain about her future without the credits. She’s already cutting costs, driving less due to car repair and gas prices, and reducing grocery spending. “I stopped buying beef, which isn’t ideal given my anemia, but I must adapt,” Weidner shared.
‘It’ll really change my life entirely’
After a layoff, Easton resident Laura Cummings secured coverage through the ACA, paying $96 monthly for essential epilepsy medications that would cost $1,000 without insurance. Her premium is set to increase to $505 in January, threatening her ability to afford both insurance and medication.
“It’s scary,” Cummings admits. “I’m trying to stay optimistic that credits will be extended. Without them, I can’t afford insurance or my medicine, which keeps me seizure-free and able to drive. Losing it all would drastically change my life.”
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