Davids to Congressional Leaders: Extend Health Care Savings in Government Funding Bill Before End-of-Month Deadline

Today, Representative Sharice Davids urged Congressional leadership to include an extension of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs) in any government funding bill. With current government funding set to expire on September 30, Davids warned that failure to act would cause millions of Americans to face higher health care costs when ACA open enrollment begins in November.

“I’ve heard directly from Kansans who are counting on these savings to afford their care, and they deserve certainty, not last-minute political games,” Davids wrote. “Any plan to fund the government for fiscal year 2026 must include the extension of these soon-to-expire savings.”

The ACA’s premium tax credits have lowered health care costs for millions of Americans, leading to the lowest uninsured rate in modern history. Without congressional action, premiums are projected to rise an average of 20 percent nationwide, forcing 4.2 million Americans off their health insurance.

In Kansas alone, more than 160,000 people relied on these tax credits last year to save an average of $700 annually on their health care. If the credits expire, a family of four in Kansas’ Third District earning $130,000 could see a $7,000 increase in premiums, while a 60-year-old couple earning $82,000 could see nearly $17,000 more in costs each year.

“While I support the permanent extension of these tax credits, I stand ready to work with both sides of the aisle to pass any feasible extension,” Davids continued. “We cannot allow the expiration of these [tax credits] to burden millions of Americans’ budgets come 2026.”

If these savings are allowed to lapse, many healthy people may be forced to drop coverage, leaving the insurance pool made up of individuals with chronic conditions or high-cost medical needs. That would drive premiums even higher for those who remain on ACA plans, compounding the financial burden on families who can least afford it.

Read the full letter here or below.

Dear Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Thune, Democratic Leader Jeffries, and Minority Leader Schumer,

I write to you today regarding the fast-approaching sunset of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs), which have led to the lowest ever uninsured rate in modern history. Congress must act immediately.

With under two months until ACA open enrollment, tens of millions of Americans will be hit by higher health care costs. Without immediate congressional action, ACA plan premiums for 2026 will increase an average of 20 percent nationwide, and 4.2 million Americans will be kicked off their health insurance.

Last year, 160,000 Kansans – including more than 40,000 of my constituents – relied on these tax credits to lower their health care costs, saving around $700 that year. If these savings expire, a family of four in my district earning $130,000 a year could see a $7,000 increase in their premiums; a 60-year-old couple earning $82,000 could see a nearly $17,000 increase each year.

President Trump ran on a promise to lower costs for Americans, and that’s exactly what these health care tax credits have done. Yet when Republicans had the chance to extend them in their budget this July, they refused — leaving millions of families facing higher costs while giving billionaires tax breaks. Additionally, the extreme law also added more hurdles for the marketplace, including shortening the open enrollment period.

I’ve heard directly from Kansans who are counting on these savings to afford their care, and they deserve certainty, not last-minute political games. We cannot wait until the end of December to act on this pressing matter. Any plan to fund the government for fiscal year 2026 ahead of October 1, 2025, must include the extension of these soon-to-expire savings. 

While I support the permanent extension of these tax credits, I stand ready to work with both sides of the aisle to pass any feasible extension. We cannot allow the expiration of these EPTCs to burden millions of Americans’ budgets come 2026. Thank you for your urgent attention to this matter. 

Sincerely,