GOP Congressman calls ACA tax credit extension a ‘colossal mistake’

Democrats pursue a shutdown to bargain as Republicans in Congress want ACA tax credits to expire at the end of this year. 

As the federal government barrels towards a shutdown, hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians who purchase their health care through Pennie face skyrocketing monthly premiums if Republicans allow the Enhanced Premium Tax Credit to expire at the end of the year. 

This didn’t stop US House Rep. Scott Perry (R-York) from publishing an op-ed calling for the tax credits, which help those who purchase their health care through various state marketplaces like Pennie, to expire at the end of the year. 

Perry stated that extending those tax credits would be a “colossal mistake” even though premiums for Pennie customers in his congressional district will increase by 170%. 

“It is unthinkable that Rep. Scott Perry believes it would be a ‘colossal mistake’ to make sure that South Central Pennsylvanians have affordable health care,” Rachele Fortier, Campaign Director for Affordable Pennsylvania, said in a statement. 

She added, “if these health care tax credits expire, Rep. Perry’s constituents are expected to see their insurance prices increase by 170 percent, nearly tripling their monthly premium costs.”

In Perry’s district, Pennie states that a married couple at 60 years old making roughly $82,000 will see their premiums increase from $581 per month with the enhanced tax credits to $2,934 per month, or 405% following the expiration of those tax credits. 

A family of four making close to $78,000 per year may see their premiums increase from $260 per month to $541 per month.

Over 435,000 Pennsylvanians purchased their health care through Pennie, the state’s ACA marketplace, last year, and individuals across the commonwealth face an 82% average increase in premiums if those tax credits expire. 

Pennie officials fear that up to 270,000 Pennsylvanians will lose their health care coverage due to tax credits expiration and the changes made to the ACA under President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” 

Trump’s budget shortens the open enrollment period by one month, ends automatic re-enrollments for customers, and forces Pennie customers to pay their full premiums until their incomes are verified. 

“It’s [Perry’s] responsibility to protect the well-being of his constituents,” Fortier said. “Pennsylvanians’ health care is not negotiable. We’re calling on Rep. Perry to fight for working families and make the health care tax credits permanent.”