Mainers brace for premium increases that could make health care unaffordable

Augusta, Maine – Ahead of the CoverME, ACA marketplace open enrollment launching tomorrow, Maine Democratic Party spokesperson Tommy Garcia released the following statement on Susan Collins refusing to lift a finger to protect Mainers’ health care and extend critical ACA tax credits 50,000 Mainers rely on:

“Susan Collins is to blame for Mainers’ skyrocketing insurance rates. Instead of lifting a finger to prevent rising costs and protect Mainer’s health care access, Collins would rather side with party bosses, prolong a government shutdown and further the health care coverage crisis she helped create. Come 2026, Mainers will hold Susan Collins accountable for costing them health care, raising their costs, and failing to protect Maine.”

Because Susan Collins refused to act and extend the expiring ACA tax credits, Mainers who are part of the CoverME ACA Marketplace are expected to see average monthly premiums double, thousands could pay over $900 more a month, and in some scenarios, families could see rates increase by 412%. For months Mainers have warned of the impact skyrocketing rates will have on their lives.

 

Susan Collins continues to cost Mainers their health care.

  • Collins “has yet to sponsor” any legislation to extend the expiring ACA tax credits.

  • Collins has voted against a bill over a dozen times that would save health care for more than 50,000 Mainers who are now seeing their insurance premiums skyrocket thanks to ACA tax credits expiring. She called efforts to address the health care crisis “poison pills.”

  • Collins was a “key,” “pivotal vote” to advance the GOP tax bill that will force 61,000 Mainers to lose their health care and shut down rural Maine hospitals in order to pay for tax giveaways to billionaires.

  • And Collins has refused to back legislation to stop rising health care costs as she rakes in more than $120,000 in donations from the insurance companies jacking up rates on Mainers.

With Maine insurance rates set to increase across the board, 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.”

 

See more: What Mainers are Saying: Rising Insurance Premiums are “Catastrophic”; ICYMI: “Mainers to Collins: Prioritize Our Health, Renew ACA Tax Credits”; ICYMI: Impacted Mainers Discuss Skyrocketing Insurance Rates As Collins Refuses to Protect Mainers’ Health Care; While Mainers Face Health Care Cliff, Collins Gets MAGA Swag Bag at Trump “Unity” Lunch 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

###