Augusta, Maine – Mainers can blame Susan Collins for the skyrocketing insurance rates they’re starting to see today as “window shopping” on Maine’s ACA marketplace opens – a time when ACA enrollees can preview premium costs for next year ahead of open enrollment on November 1.

For weeks, Collins has followed President Trump’s order to not “even bother dealing with” Democrats on government funding, voting numerous times against a bill that would protect more than 50,000 Mainers who are at risk of seeing their insurance premiums skyrocket when enhanced premium ACA tax credits expire. With Maine insurance rates already set to increase, state leaders have highlighted “one of the reasons [for rate increases] stated by every insurance company is the expiration of these enhanced premium tax credits.”

If the ACA tax credits are not extended:

  • Thousands of Mainers could see their monthly health premiums increase by as much as 117%.

  • Thousands could pay over $900 more a month.

  • Typical costs for those on Maine’s health insurance marketplace could nearly double and they’ll be expected to pay $286 more per month.

  • And in some scenarios, families could see rates skyrocket by 412%.

Susan Collins “has yet to sponsor” any legislative move to extend the tax credits despite Maine state officials warning action had to be taken before September 30th, and “that extending the enhanced premium tax credit is the single most effective step Congress can take to lower health care costs for Mainers.”

Maine Democratic Party spokesperson Tommy Garcia:
“When Mainers receive notice that their health care premiums are skyrocketing, they will have Susan Collins to blame. Instead of acting to prevent rising costs and protect Mainers’ health care, Collins would rather side with her party and prolong a government shutdown.”

See more: What They’re Saying: Maine Democrats, Advocates Criticize Collins, “Warn [of] Health Care Increases” [Maine Morning Star]; ICYMI: Maine Dems, Health Care Leaders Call Out Collins for Failing To Protect Mainers’ Health Care; What Mainers are Watching and Reading: Thanks to Collins, Mainers “Could See Their Premiums Skyrocket”; Maine Beacon: Susan Collins accepts thousands from insurers while health costs soar for Mainers

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