WATCH: On Affordable Care Act Anniversary, Davids Calls to Extend Health Care Tax Credits, Lower Costs for Kansans
Today, on the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, Representative Sharice Davids is once again calling on Congress to extend critical health care tax credits that have helped more than 160,000 Kansans afford coverage and save an average of $700 annually. Because Republican politicians refused to act, these enhanced tax credits have expired — driving up costs and putting affordable coverage out of reach for working families, seniors, and small business owners.
“Families are already feeling the squeeze from rising costs, and higher health care premiums are only making it harder to get by,” said Davids. “These tax credits made a real difference for Kansans, helping them afford doctor visits and prescriptions, and giving them peace of mind. On the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, we should be building on that progress, not going backward. Congress needs to act to extend these savings and bring stability back to the health care marketplace.”
WATCH: Davids speaks on the necessity to overcome partisan gridlock and extend health care tax credit
The enhanced ACA tax credits previously helped lower costs for Kansans, but their expiration is now leading to steep premium increases. Some Kansans are facing dramatic spikes in their monthly costs:
- A Mission Woods resident saw premiums rise by more than $17,000 annually
- A Prairie Village resident saw premiums rise by more than 3,000 percent
- An Edwardsville resident saw premiums rise by more than $2,000 annually
Nationally, the lapse in these tax credits is projected to increase premiums by an average of 77 percent and could push millions of Americans off their health insurance. Health policy experts warn that as premiums rise, healthier individuals may drop coverage, leaving a smaller, higher-risk insurance pool—driving costs even higher for those who remain insured.
Davids has led efforts in Congress to strengthen these tax credits, voting to extend them through 2028. She has also pushed House leadership to take action, hosted events with Kansans impacted by rising costs, and consistently advocated for policies that lower health care expenses.