New Report Shows Premiums Doubling as Rep. Kiggans Refuses to Sign On to a Long-term Solution on ACA Tax Credits
Virginia Beach, VA – Last month, Protect Our Care released a report examining the rising health care costs working families face as they sign up for next year's health insurance. In Virginia, families are facing premiums double what they were in 2025.
Congress just needs four more representatives to sign a discharge petition that would force the House of Representatives to take a floor vote on expanding the ACA tax credits for 3 years. With over 21,000 people in her district who are bracing to go without health insurance if they can’t afford it, Rep. Kiggans should be at the front of the line to sign the petition and lower health care costs for her constituents.
Instead, Rep. Kiggans proposed another bill to temporarily extend the credits. This bill only kicks the can down the road for 1 year instead of a real long-term solution, creating instability for working families already dealing with skyrocketing costs. Rep. Kiggans has indicated that she would like to eliminate the Affordable Care Act, but has provided no real long-term solution.
“When I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, I had been working for the same company for years, but didn’t qualify for their health care – it was the ACA plan that I paid $30 for that saved my life,” said Dani Loesh, Virginia Beach resident. “After several more years, I finally qualified for insurance through my employer, but recovery is lifelong, and I have medications that I will always have to take. For people like me, there’s no question that the ACA tax credits are essential, but Rep. Kiggans claimed that working families didn’t need them, and even now, after the cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, she’s still not fighting for affordable health care. Billionaires keep getting tax breaks, but if they paid their fair share, we could all have health care. Rep. Kiggans needs to stand up for us, not billionaires.”
“We are witnessing the biggest increase in health care costs in generations. At the same time, the costs of everything else are going up too. Working families are on the brink, trying to make ends meet,” said Emily Yeatts, Affordable Virginia Campaigns Director. “Insurance plans are set to go up hundreds of dollars per person. For example, in Virginia, Anthem is increasing its premiums by 20%. Rep. Kiggans said in 2022 that she would make eliminating the ACA a priority, and now, after she’s slashed Medicaid and is hearing from her constituents, she’s trying to save face by saying we can expand them for a year, but not make them permanent. Virginians need stability. Rep. Kiggans needs to sign the discharge petition so that Congress can finally vote to protect these tax credits and fight for affordable health care for everyone.”