WASHINGTON – A Washington, DC-based national advocacy group is speaking out on the impact on healthcare affordability facing American families.
Americans for Responsible Growth held a press call Wednesday afternoon, highlighting its work with state fiscal officers across the country.
“These fiscal officers know that true fiscal responsibility means protecting taxpayers and ensuring that the government actually works for the people,” Dave Wallach, executive director of Americans for Responsible Growth, said.
One of the top points of discussion is fact that, if Congress does not act on it, the Enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits will expire at the end of the year. Congressional Democrats fought for them to be extended during government shutdown negotiations.
“That failure, on top of the shutdown, will create a double crisis that devastates both state budgets and family finances,” Wallach said.
Minnesota State Auditor Julie Blaha participated in the call.
She said that approximately 89,000 Minnesota residents ‘will have to pay more for healthcare’ if the tax credits are not extended. On average, it would impact people by $2,000 a year, she said – or an increase of $177 per month, according to MNSure, the state’s exchange.
“This affects people significantly,” Blaha said. “It always ripples out, because none of these effects will stop here. As that cost gets moved out, that starts to affect whether a hospital can stay open, whether a clinic can stay open. And then that starts to affect the entire community’s economy.”
Regardless of whether or not the credits are extended, the state auditor said there’s ‘going to be damage.’
“There are people going to have to make choices now,” Blaha said. “They’re not going to have the luxury of waiting and who are going to, you know, upset their family life and and impact their communities by moves.”
Blaha was joined on the call by Delaware State Treasurer Colleen Davis.
