Health care premiums increase with Republican cuts to ACA

Pennsylvania Insurance Department announced premium hikes for Pennie customers at the start of open enrollment.

Pennsylvanians who purchase their health care through Pennie, the commonwealth’s health care marketplace, are expected to see their monthly premiums increase when the open enrollment period starts on Nov. 1. 

According to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID), these price hikes are happening because of changes made to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” and because of Congress’ failure to extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, which are set to expire at the end of this year.

“Pennsylvanians who purchase their own coverage will be receiving renewal letters from their insurers and from Pennie that will contain prices that will be shocking,” Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys said in a statement. “Congress still has the ability to act to protect Pennsylvania families, as well families across the country.” 

A record-breaking 500,000 Pennsylvanians purchased their health care through Pennie last year, but it is estimated that close to 250,000 customers will lose coverage due premium increases and changes made by Trump’s budget. 

According to the PID, Pennie customers will see an average aggregate weighted rate increase of 21.5% in the individual market, but increases will vary based on plan type, region and individual circumstances. 

Pennsylvanians are already receiving notifications that their insurance will increase by as much as 82%. Rural Pennsylvanians are going to be disproportionately affected by the financial impacts because they will lose more tax credit dollars than urban communities.  

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, who was touring businesses with US congressional candidate Janelle Stelson in Harrisburg on Wednesday, shared his frustrations to the press about the health care cuts. 

“[Pennie] has  been a tremendous resource for working class Pennsylvanians, and the thought that many people will be kicked off of their healthcare because they won’t be able to afford it—it’s devastating,” Davis told reporters. 

“Leaders in Washington need to come together, do their job and extend the ACA to give folks the coverage they deserve and then they need to get to work on lowering costs.”