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ACA Backers Say End of Credits Will Hurt PA
By Farah Siddiqi - Public News Service
The Tube City Almanac
December 18, 2025
Posted in: State & Region
Pennsylvania health care advocates warn a pending vote in Congress could sharply raise insurance costs for hundreds of thousands of residents, as federal tax credits that help people afford coverage under the Affordable Care Act are set to expire at the end of the year.
At a press call this week, advocates said Pennsylvania could be among the states hardest hit if the credits are not extended, pointing to data from the state’s insurance marketplace showing steep premium increases ahead.
U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, a Philadelphia Democrat, said the impact would be immediate for families relying on the ACA.
“What they have said is that the average premium increase — average — will be 102 percent,” he said. “So a family that today is paying five hundred dollars a month overnight will be paying a thousand a month.
Republicans backing the change say the enhanced tax credits were always temporary and argue federal spending must be reduced. Nonpartisan analysts, including the Congressional Budget Office, estimate millions of Americans could lose coverage if the credits expire.
Vaishu Jawahar, director of policy programswith Protect Our Care, said the effects would extend beyond those who buy insurance on the marketplace, warning of broader consequences for hospitals, workers, and insured patients alike.
“Even if they’re not getting their coverage on their own through the healthcare marketplace, this is going to affect everyone regardless of where they’re getting their health insurance, because when people lose coverage, they still end up needing health care,” she said.
Farah Siddiqi currently serves as a national news producer and anchor for Public News Service, where she covers democracy, equity and community-driven stories. She also holds a master’s degree from USC Annenberg.
Originally published December 18, 2025.
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