Nicole Rapfogel
@nicolerapfogel.bsky.social
190 followers 130 following 16 posts
health policy nerd | sr policy analyst @centeronbudget.bsky.social | formerly CMS and @americanprogress.bsky.social | opinions mine
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Reposted by Nicole Rapfogel
gidlukens.bsky.social
Georgia’s 2026 ACA marketplace window shopping began October 1, meaning people are already seeing next year’s premiums spike because of expiring tax credit enhancements. A typical 60-year-old couple making $85,000 in Georgia will face a $24,900 increase in annual premiums. (1/4)
Reposted by Nicole Rapfogel
jenniferlsullivan.bsky.social
Some policymakers say that that Congress can delay extending the Premium Tax Credit (PTC) enhancements until later this year but the problem is more urgent than that. thehill.com/policy/healt...
thehill.com
Reposted by Nicole Rapfogel
gidlukens.bsky.social
Since 2021, ACA marketplace enrollment more than doubled for people with low incomes and for Black and Latino enrollees after premium tax credit enhancements. (1/4)
Reposted by Nicole Rapfogel
gidlukens.bsky.social
Premium tax credit enhancements help tipped workers, veterans, small business workers, farmers, and older people afford health coverage. Their premiums will soon spike and millions of them will lose coverage if the enhancements expire. (1/5)
Reposted by Nicole Rapfogel
Reposted by Nicole Rapfogel
kff.org
KFF @kff.org · 7d
If Congress allows the enhanced premium tax credits to expire at the end of this year, ACA Marketplace enrollees on average would see their out-of-pocket premium payments grow by 114%, from an average of $888 in 2025 to $1,904 in 2026: https://on.kff.org/3WfWxjj
KFF bar chart titled “Premium payments in 2026 would more than double on average if ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire.” The chart shows the annual out-of-pocket premium payments for Affordable Care Act Marketplace enrollees in 2025 and 2026. For 2025, the payment is $888, and for 2026, the projected payment is $1,904. This is an increase of 114%. Note: the 2026 average premium payment assumes gross premiums increase of 18% for those who lose tax credit eligibility.
Reposted by Nicole Rapfogel
jenniferlsullivan.bsky.social
Why are #ACA marketplace plans with $0 premiums important? My colleague @nicolerapfogel.bsky.social explains:
nicolerapfogel.bsky.social
PTC enhancements made coverage affordable for many in states that haven’t expanded #Medicaid. While the uninsured rate fell nationwide after the enhancements, low-income people in nonexpansion states saw the greatest declines because their counterparts in expansion states had access to Medicaid.
With PTC Enhancements in Place, Uninsured Rate Fell Most for People With Low Incomes in Non-Expansion States | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
www.cbpp.org
nicolerapfogel.bsky.social
Losing $0 premium plans will hit hard in states that did not expand #Medicaid under the #ACA. In these states, people w/ incomes 100-138% FPL ($15,650-$21,597 for an individual) would lose access to no-premium plans—even though they would be eligible for Medicaid if they lived in an expansion state.
nicolerapfogel.bsky.social
Losing access to plans with $0 premiums makes people with low incomes more likely to lose coverage. Beyond affordability, administrative burdens and confusion prevent people from paying even small premium amounts.
Reposted by Nicole Rapfogel
gidlukens.bsky.social
More than 2 in 5 veterans enrolled in the ACA marketplace will lose their coverage if premium tax credit enhancements expire, out of the 623,000 veterans who would otherwise have marketplace coverage in 2026. New Urban Institute estimates here: tinyurl.com/2bs4aj2j
tinyurl.com
nicolerapfogel.bsky.social
The megabill and reg will make marketplace coverage less affordable for enrollees, more difficult to enroll and stay enrolled, and increase the number of people who are uninsured. If Congress takes away PTC enhancements, millions will be unable to get and keep affordable marketplace coverage.
Five Key Changes to ACA Marketplaces Amid Uncertainty Over Premium Tax Credit Enhancements | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Recent policy changes, most notably enhancements to premium tax credits to reduce enrollees’ health insurance premiums, have driven record-breaking enrollment gains and delivered reduced costs, simpli...
www.cbpp.org
nicolerapfogel.bsky.social
The marketplace reg and megabill block many people with lawful immigration statuses from accessing affordable marketplace coverage. Already, people with DACA are no longer able to enroll in marketplace plans or receive PTCs and even more immigrants will lose access in 2026 and beyond.
nicolerapfogel.bsky.social
The reconciliation megabill and the Trump admin’s marketplace rule make enrollment, eligibility, and affordability even harder. This year’s open enrollment will be especially confusing—and the admin cut Navigator funding by 90%, meaning there’s less support for enrollees to navigate the red tape.
nicolerapfogel.bsky.social
Trump admin policies are contributing to higher underlying premiums—increasing by a median of 18% for 2026. Enhanced PTCs insulate most enrollees from dramatic increases in costs, but without enhancements enrollees may have to pay impossibly high premiums.
Families Will Be Exposed to Steep Premium Increases if Tax Credit Enhancements Expire | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
www.cbpp.org
nicolerapfogel.bsky.social
PTC enhancements have been a lifeline for enrollees with low to moderate incomes, who will face the greatest harm if Congress allows these enhancements to expire at the end of this year and could lose affordable coverage.
Marketplace PTC Enrollees Have Low to Moderate Incomes | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
www.cbpp.org
nicolerapfogel.bsky.social
In addition to restricting marketplace eligibility and increasing burdensome red tape in the budget bill, CMS finalized a rule that would cause 1.8M people to lose coverage in 2026 alone.

More on the details and major issues 👇
June 20, 2025: Executive Action Watch | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule that will make Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage less affordable for enrollees, create new barriers to enrolling in and...
www.cbpp.org
Reposted by Nicole Rapfogel
andreaducas.bsky.social
The new CBO score is out for the "Big Beautiful Bill." Topline? 10.9m people will lose coverage. Combined with previous CBO estimates (updated numbers could be coming soon) of cuts slated for the end of the year for ACA premium tax credits we could be looking at 16m uninsured.

Disgraceful.