Many Families are Finding It Harder to Afford Healthcare
What you need to know:
Across the country, working families are struggling to keep up with skyrocketing healthcare costs, which are set to double next year—and Pennsylvanians are feeling the pain.2
Earlier this year, Congress passed the biggest cuts to Medicaid in U.S. history. Medicaid helps millions of families get the care they need.
When people lose their health insurance, hospitals and communities pay the price too. When many people don’t have coverage, hospitals may have to cut staff or services so people might have fewer places to go when sick. If a hospital has fewer insured patients, it might struggle or even shut down. That means even people who have insurance will have to travel farther or wait longer for care. Everyone pays more when people can’t get the care they need.
HEALTHCARE CRISIS
WHAT’S AT STAKE FOR PENNSYLVANIA’S WORKING FAMILIES?
Healthcare in America costs too much. Families at all income levels struggle to afford care. Instead of helping, Congress keeps cutting funding for the programs we all rely on. They do this to give huge tax breaks to billionaires who don’t need them.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration and Congress made the biggest cuts to Medicaid in U.S. history. These cuts hurt healthcare and raised costs for millions of families—all to fund tax breaks for the very rich.1
Now, they are going even further. They refuse to extend the premium tax credits that help working families pay for health insurance. This means Pennsylvanians will have to pay much more for their care.
IF CURRENT TAX CREDITS EXPIRE...
Healthcare costs are doubling. Across the country, health insurance costs are going up by an average of 114%. In Pennsylvania, people using Pennie—the state’s health insurance marketplace— would pay an average of 82% more. Those with the lowest incomes would see even bigger increases.2
Millions are losing coverage. Almost 5 million Americans are losing their health insurance, leaving them without access to doctors, medicine, or emergency care. 270,000 Pennsylvanians could lose their coverage entirely because of higher prices.3
Older Pennsylvanians are hit the hardest. People close to Medicare age would face huge price increases, making healthcare even harder to afford.4
REP. RYAN MACKENZIE VOTED FOR A BILL THAT WILL RAISE HEALTHCARE COSTS
Your member of Congress, Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, voted to cut Medicaid and allow healthcare costs to go up.5 Every day, families struggle with rising costs for doctors, medicine, and life-saving care.
Tell Rep. Mackenzie that you and your family can't afford to pay more for healthcare because he's letting premium tax credits expire. Leave a message at (202) 225-6411 or email him on his website: mackenzie.house.gov/contact/email-me
HOW MUCH COULD YOUR PREMIUM GO UP?
Pennie, Pennsylvania’s ACA marketplace, has resources to show what will happen if the enhanced premium tax credits expire. For a working family earning about $55,000 a year, premiums could go up by almost $2,000 a year. (You can learn more on their website: pennie.com/affordability)
Congress has a choice: protect these savings so families can afford care, or let them expire, forcing people to choose between health coverage and other needs. Speak up and tell Congress to keep costs down.
Tell Rep. Mackenzie that you and your family can't afford to pay more for healthcare because he's letting premium tax credits expire.
Here are three quick ways to help:
� Leave a message at (202) 255-6411 ✉ mackenzie.house.gov/contact/email-me
� Sign up for Town Hall updates at mackenzie.house.gov/contact/town-hall-rsvp
PENNSYLVANIA VOICES
Pennsylvanians on how healthcare cuts affect their lives
“My wife and I are getting close to retirement. Our health insurance premium is currently capped at $586 a month, which stretches our budget thin. But if Congress lets these tax credits expire, we’ll face a monthly bill of at least $2,800. That’s a burden no family can afford, and it jeopardizes our health and our future.”
—Name, City
“I’m a nurse in Carbon County, and our local hospitals are struggling to stay open. If another one closes, families here will lose access to urgent care and life-saving services when they need them most.”
—Name, City
ACA Marketplace Premium Payments Would More than Double on Average Next Year if Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire KFF, 9/30/2025
Insurance costs to soar in Pa. without congressional action Insurance News Net, 9/18/2025
The Peterson Center on Healthcare and KFF teamed up to show how our healthcare system is really working—both in quality and in cost. Their easy online tool helps you estimate your family’s medical costs and understand where your money goes. Learn more: healthsystemtracker.org/ household-health-spending-calculator