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Opinion | Congress, don’t give us a lump of lost health care coal
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During what should be a joyous holiday season, millions of Michiganders are left anxious and worried about rising food and housing costs. Alongside uncertainty about the impacts of tariffs, increasing unemployment, and persistent inflation, household budgets are being squeezed. And to top it off, Congress is about to hand hardworking Michigan residents another lump of coal, in the form of lost health care and skyrocketing premiums.
Instead of focusing on affordability and improving access to health care, President Donald Trump and Republican leaders in Congress are making things worse by raising costs and cutting coverage. They have already passed a law that makes it harder for working people to get affordable health care — since Congress is not expected to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, even more of our neighbors could see their health care premiums skyrocket. With over 90% of ACA enrollees receiving tax credits, not extending them is just wrong.
These cuts will have devastating ripple effects on Michigan communities. Take our farmers, for example, who are small business owners accessing health care through the ACA. We know many farmers are struggling right now, whether from cuts to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and local food purchasing programs, or from market volatility caused by Trump’s negligent tariffs. Increases in health care costs could force our farmers to make the painful decision between farming or finding a new job that provides stable health insurance.
It’s no secret that rural residents rely on the ACA more than non-rural residents, and rural communities, like those in my district, already face barriers to receiving care due to rural hospitals and clinics closing. Now, to make matters worse, Trump and D.C. Republicans cut funding for rural hospitals, nursing homes and clinics, which will force hundreds of life-saving facilities to close, leaving so many rural residents without access to care in their area.
It doesn’t stop there. Skilled workers in building trades, entrepreneurs, small business owners, artists, gig workers, real estate professionals, and so many of our neighbors use the ACA for health care. Loss of access to affordable health care will impact not only these workers, but our construction industry, housing, food supply, and so much more. Students access health care through the ACA while they work to achieve their educational goals. And even those who get health insurance through their employer will also be impacted by expiring tax credits. Employers will be facing the biggest premium hikes in 15 years, and those costs will undoubtedly be passed down to employees. I’ve heard from my constituents that they are struggling with this.
These cuts pay for huge, obscene tax breaks for big corporations and the wealthiest Americans. This isn’t right. Hardworking Americans need the system to work for them, too, and it shouldn’t require a lobbyist or big campaign contributions for Congress to do the right thing.
These concerns were echoed at a recent Health Care Town Hall I hosted with Rep. Carrie Rheingans in Jackson. The consensus? Health care costs are hurting everyone. Individuals are struggling to afford care. Small business owners are trying to stay afloat. Employers are facing steep and unsustainable premium increases.
Residents spoke about delaying doctor visits and rationing medication. Many shared the constant stress of not knowing how they will pay for care when illness strikes. Bill Wypyski, CEO of the Center for Family Health, gave an overview of the current state of the Center’s operations in Jackson and the challenges local clinics face as costs rise and funding remains uncertain. The message was clear: without action, families, workers, and communities will continue to pay the price.
We don’t have time to waste. We can’t afford any more delays. President Trump and Republican leaders in Congress have offered no real alternative and have no other plan. Those health care tax credits expire at the end of the month, and right now, millions of Americans are deciding how they will manage their health care costs.
This holiday season, we hoped Congress would honor the hard work of Michiganders by extending ACA tax credits, fixing essential funding for Medicaid and Medicare, keeping rural hospitals open, and making health care accessible and affordable for all Americans in the coming year.
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