Davids Votes for Bipartisan Bill to Extend Health Care Tax Credits, Saving Kansans Hundreds of Dollars

Today, Representative Sharice Davids voted to extend the lifesaving Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits that reduced health care costs for more than 160,000 Kansans by an average of $700 a year. House Republican leadership had previously blocked action, allowing these tax credits to expire — driving premiums up by an average of 77 percent nationwide and pushing an estimated 4.2 million Americans off their health insurance. After four Republicans previously joined every Democrat to force a vote on the package, it successfully passed the House today with 213 Democrats and 17 Republicans voting in support.

“Families from both parties are seeing their health care costs go up because Washington failed to act. That’s unacceptable,” said Davids. “Extending these tax credits is about keeping care affordable for families, seniors, and small business owners who are already stretching every dollar — and making sure no one must choose between paying their mortgage and seeing a doctor. I’ll keep pushing until Congress delivers the certainty and affordability Kansans deserve.”

Davids previously spoke to Kansans who will pay exponentially more for their health care due to the tax credit expiration. One person faces a staggering increase of more than 3,000 percent, while another will pay more than $17,000 next year.

• Nancy Mays, Mission Woods
  • 2025: $560 per month
  • 2026: $2,030 per month
  • Increase: $17,640 per year (263 percent increase)
• Stephanie Barr, Prairie Village
  • 2025: $20 per month
  • 2026: $646 per month
  • Increase: $7,752 per year (3,130 percent increase)
• Dawn Wheeler, Edwardsville
  • 2025: $69 per month
  • 2026: $248 per month
  • Increase: $2,148 per year (259 percent increase)

Even though the tax credits have expired, Congress can still take action to prevent future premium increases. Forecasting models show that extending the enhanced ACA tax credits now could still slow or reduce the premium hikes.

Due to the price hikes, many healthy people will be forced to drop coverage, leaving the insurance pool made up of individuals with chronic conditions or high-cost medical needs. That will make premiums even higher for those who remain on ACA plans, compounding the financial burden on families who can least afford it.

Davids has sounded the alarm on this issue for more than a year, supporting a proposal to extend the tax credits permanently and a two-party compromise solution that would extend the tax credits through 2027. She also urged Congressional leadership to include an extension of these health care tax credits in a government funding bill, demanded a vote in the U.S. House, and hosted multiple press conferences with Kansans who rely on these savings to afford other everyday necessities.