Press Release

The GOP sent healthcare costs skyrocketing, forcing millions of Americans to abandon coverage

01. 08. 2026

Now their last ditch effort to fix it is too little, too late.

WASHINGTON, DC – Americans across the country are united on one thing: the cost of living is way too high, and lawmakers need to do something about it.  Today, after months of political infighting, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote to extend the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits to address skyrocketing healthcare costs. The vote will then go to the U.S. Senate, but for many Americans, the damage is already done. Economic Security Project Action issued the following statement in anticipation of the vote today: 

“When open enrollment started in November, over 22 million Americans on the ACA were shocked to see their healthcare premiums double or even triple. Those who couldn’t afford to pay skyrocketing costs dropped out of the marketplace completely, and despite the GOP’s last ditch effort, many can’t come back and are now forced to forgo care altogether,” said Anna Aurilio, Senior Director of Campaigns for Economic Security Project Action. “Don’t forget, Republicans gutted healthcare to fund tax breaks for billionaires. Now, they’re learning the hard way that turning their backs on Americans in a time of need and putting all of their eggs in billionaires’ basket is politically unpopular.  Extending the tax credits now won’t reverse much of the damage that’s already done. It’s too little, too late, especially for many of the approximately 6 million people, or 1 in 4 Americans insured through the ACA who said they already dropped coverage or plan to because they cannot afford surging premiums.”

“America is in an affordability crisis in which people are being squeezed from all directions. Restoring these credits is the least that congressional Republicans can do to address affordability—and it’s far from enough to stop the long-term costs of their healthcare heist known as H.R.1.”