The Shutdown’s True Cost

About this episode

Michelle Kang discusses the impact of the federal government shutdown on working families and the rising costs of healthcare premiums.

The federal government shutdown is finally over, but here’s the thing: working families were left behind. The bill that Donald Trump signed didn’t include the enhanced ACA tax credits that help millions of Americans afford health coverage. And now, the numbers are pretty shocking. Someone earning about $28,000 a year will see their premiums jump from $325 to more than $1,500. That’s a $1,200 increase for the exact same insurance, and a 60-year-old couple making $85,000? They could end up paying over $22,000 more each year. That’s not just a number on paper, that’s money that could cover groceries, rent, or school supplies. To make things worse, insurers are already proposing rate hikes of up to 18% next year. So even folks who manage to keep their coverage will be paying more while getting less. That’s not fair, and it’s not sustainable. When people lose coverage, they skip doctor visits, they cut pills in half to stretch prescriptions, and they end up in the ER when it’s too late. No one should have to choose between seeing a doctor and putting food on the table. That’s why, when I’m elected as your next state representative, I’m going to fight to make healthcare affordable and…

People in this episode

Host: Michelle Kang

Topics covered

• federal government shutdown
• healthcare
• affordable care act
• insurance premiums
• Medicaid expansion

Keywords

• health coverage
• rate hikes
• Georgia
• affordability
• accessibility

Mentioned in this episode

Products: ACA tax credits

Places: Georgia, Washington

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