In breaking federal news this week, Republicans in Congress have released a stopgap appropriations proposal that, if passed, will avert a government shutdown and fund key programs through Nov. 21.
Of interest to our members, the stopgap bill would extend pandemic-era Medicare telehealth flexibilities, set to expire at the end of this month, for two years. Not included in the bill, however, is an extension of the enhanced premium tax credits for qualified health plans purchased on the health benefit exchange, which are set to expire at the end of this year.
The WSMA has joined a chorus of industry voices in advocating for these tax credits to be reauthorized. The scheduled expiration of the tax credits is a stated factor in the recent news that 14 health insurers have requested an average premium increase of 21.2% for Washington’s 2026 individual health insurance market.
If Congress fails to reauthorize the tax credits, an estimated 216,000 Washingtonians will be affected. These potential losses would compound the harmful Medicaid cuts included in H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that passed in July, which KFF estimates will reduce Medicaid spending in Washington by $4.75 billion when the bill takes effect.
In August, WSMA’s executive committee and executive staff met with members of Congress, our two U.S. senators, and their staff to urge swift action to reauthorize these tax credits before the end of 2025.