Jennifer Sullivan
@jenniferlsullivan.bsky.social
Director of Health Coverage Access @centeronbudget. Long-time ACA enrollment enthusiast. Aspiring Bake Off champion. Views expressed are my own.
New HHS data on ACA marketplace enrollment for 2026 so far suggest a similar number of ppl have selected a plan compared to last year even as they see higher premium costs that reflect expiration of PTC enhancements. But don't make too much if it.
Marketplace 2026 Open Enrollment Period Report: National Snapshot | CMS
Marketplace 2026 Open Enrollment Period Report: National Snapshot
www.cms.gov
December 5, 2025 at 10:17 PM
New HHS data on ACA marketplace enrollment for 2026 so far suggest a similar number of ppl have selected a plan compared to last year even as they see higher premium costs that reflect expiration of PTC enhancements. But don't make too much if it.
Proposals to address expiring PTC enhancements should be evaluated based on the extent to which they:
1. avoid making more people uninsured;
2. ensure people keep access to affordable, comprehensive coverage; and
3. can take effect quickly.
More here: www.cbpp.org/blog/how-to-...
1. avoid making more people uninsured;
2. ensure people keep access to affordable, comprehensive coverage; and
3. can take effect quickly.
More here: www.cbpp.org/blog/how-to-...
How to Evaluate Proposals to Address Expiring Premium Tax Credit Enhancements
With just weeks to go until the premium tax credit (PTC) enhancements expire — which would increase Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace enrollees’ annual premiums by more than $1,000 on average...
www.cbpp.org
December 4, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Proposals to address expiring PTC enhancements should be evaluated based on the extent to which they:
1. avoid making more people uninsured;
2. ensure people keep access to affordable, comprehensive coverage; and
3. can take effect quickly.
More here: www.cbpp.org/blog/how-to-...
1. avoid making more people uninsured;
2. ensure people keep access to affordable, comprehensive coverage; and
3. can take effect quickly.
More here: www.cbpp.org/blog/how-to-...
Reposted by Jennifer Sullivan
Instead of a clean extension of PTC enhancements (which makes silver plans more affordable), some Republicans have proposed encouraging people to buy down to less generous bronze plans.
Don’t be fooled: While bronze plans often have lower premiums, people face much higher costs when they get care.
Don’t be fooled: While bronze plans often have lower premiums, people face much higher costs when they get care.
December 2, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Instead of a clean extension of PTC enhancements (which makes silver plans more affordable), some Republicans have proposed encouraging people to buy down to less generous bronze plans.
Don’t be fooled: While bronze plans often have lower premiums, people face much higher costs when they get care.
Don’t be fooled: While bronze plans often have lower premiums, people face much higher costs when they get care.
Reposted by Jennifer Sullivan
ACA marketplace plans w/ $0 premiums help ppl get & stay covered. Recent Republican proposals would require minimum premiums or fail to extend premium tax credit enhancements based on the false claim that ppl who don’t use medical care are “phantom enrollees.” 🧵https://tinyurl.com/4uc68zbf
People With Low Incomes May Lose $0 Premium Plans — a Lifeline — Unless Congress Acts
Without congressional action, PTC enhancements will expire at the end of 2025. This will cause millions —many of these lowest-income enrollees especially — to become uninsured, or to face impossible c...
tinyurl.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:26 PM
ACA marketplace plans w/ $0 premiums help ppl get & stay covered. Recent Republican proposals would require minimum premiums or fail to extend premium tax credit enhancements based on the false claim that ppl who don’t use medical care are “phantom enrollees.” 🧵https://tinyurl.com/4uc68zbf
Reposted by Jennifer Sullivan
Reports that the White House is working on a proposal to extend premium tax credit enhancements shows the Administration is acknowledging the urgent need to address premium spikes for millions of marketplace enrollees. But big questions remain.🧵
November 24, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Reports that the White House is working on a proposal to extend premium tax credit enhancements shows the Administration is acknowledging the urgent need to address premium spikes for millions of marketplace enrollees. But big questions remain.🧵
My colleague @nicolerapfogel.bsky.social summarizes the latest GAO report on health savings accounts. HSAs simply aren't a good fit for people with low incomes or serious health conditions.
The GAO released a report last week on health savings accounts (HSAs) reaffirming that HSAs do little to help people with low and moderate incomes – who would be hurt the most if Congress lets premium tax credit enhancements expire.
GAO-25-107480, HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS: Information on Features and Use,
and Characteristics of Account Holders
files.gao.gov
November 24, 2025 at 9:58 PM
My colleague @nicolerapfogel.bsky.social summarizes the latest GAO report on health savings accounts. HSAs simply aren't a good fit for people with low incomes or serious health conditions.
Some recent Republican responses to the marketplace premium tax credit issue would shift more people to bronze plans with Health Savings Accounts as an alternative to silver plans with PTC enhancements and cost sharing reductions. So how do these plans stack up in real terms?
November 24, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Some recent Republican responses to the marketplace premium tax credit issue would shift more people to bronze plans with Health Savings Accounts as an alternative to silver plans with PTC enhancements and cost sharing reductions. So how do these plans stack up in real terms?
Reposted by Jennifer Sullivan
Here they go again: Republicans in Congress are reviving the ACA repeal debate. After enacting unprecedented cuts to Medicaid, they are looking for ways to eliminate federal premium tax credits that some help about 20M people afford marketplace plans.
November 20, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Here they go again: Republicans in Congress are reviving the ACA repeal debate. After enacting unprecedented cuts to Medicaid, they are looking for ways to eliminate federal premium tax credits that some help about 20M people afford marketplace plans.
My colleague @nicolerapfogel.bsky.social talked with CQ this week about why Republican HSA and cash account proposals are no substitute for extending the soon-to-expire PTC enhancements that more than 20 million ACA marketplace enrollees rely on to keep coverage affordable.
As I told CQ, the Republican HSA and other cash account proposals are no real alternative to extending PTC enhancements and won't make health coverage more affordable.
“These proposals are somewhat unserious. They lack the details, they're unclear on the mechanisms, they don't make policy sense.”
“These proposals are somewhat unserious. They lack the details, they're unclear on the mechanisms, they don't make policy sense.”
CQ NEWS House GOP not ready to embrace Senate’s health account idea
Republicans, who had been unified on the need to reopen the government, seemed less united Wednesday on the next step — how to address the upcoming health care subsidy cliff.
plus.cq.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:57 PM
My colleague @nicolerapfogel.bsky.social talked with CQ this week about why Republican HSA and cash account proposals are no substitute for extending the soon-to-expire PTC enhancements that more than 20 million ACA marketplace enrollees rely on to keep coverage affordable.
Making decisions about ACA marketplace coverage for 2026 is complicated, since the PTC enhancements that expire in Dec haven't yet been extended. We created a running list of FAQs to answer ?s about deadlines, automatic re-enrollment, and more. www.healthreformbeyondthebasics.org/marketplace-...
Marketplace Open Enrollment for 2026 - Beyond the Basics
Updated November 10, 2025 1. What are premium tax credits (PTCs)? Premium tax credits, also known as PTCs, help individuals and families with low and
www.healthreformbeyondthebasics.org
November 12, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Making decisions about ACA marketplace coverage for 2026 is complicated, since the PTC enhancements that expire in Dec haven't yet been extended. We created a running list of FAQs to answer ?s about deadlines, automatic re-enrollment, and more. www.healthreformbeyondthebasics.org/marketplace-...
#OpenEnrollment for 2026 marketplace plans started Nov 1 in most states. B/c Congressional Rs haven’t extended PTC enhancements, ppl are seeing higher costs as they review their options. If you’re in need of marketplace coverage, here are some key dates to keep in mind during this uncertain time:
November 6, 2025 at 7:00 PM
#OpenEnrollment for 2026 marketplace plans started Nov 1 in most states. B/c Congressional Rs haven’t extended PTC enhancements, ppl are seeing higher costs as they review their options. If you’re in need of marketplace coverage, here are some key dates to keep in mind during this uncertain time:
Check out this new paper from my colleagues @gidlukens.bsky.social and Elizabeth w/data on massive premium hikes for ACA marketplace coverage in 2026. Reminder: this is avoidable! Congress can extend the PTC enhancements and ensure millions of people can keep affordable health coverage next year.
Window shopping for 2026 ACA marketplace plans is open for almost all states, and open enrollment is only days away. Millions of marketplace enrollees are seeing 2026 premiums spike due to expiring premium tax credits. See our paper with state-level estimates: tinyurl.com/zndd97k7
October 29, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Check out this new paper from my colleagues @gidlukens.bsky.social and Elizabeth w/data on massive premium hikes for ACA marketplace coverage in 2026. Reminder: this is avoidable! Congress can extend the PTC enhancements and ensure millions of people can keep affordable health coverage next year.
2026 premiums are posted on HealthCare.gov. I checked out my hometown zip code in Lansing, MI. Someone w/an income less than $2,000/mo who paid $0 for a plan this year would pay $82/mo in 2026. That’s not affordable. Congress needs to act now to extend the PTC enhancements!
October 29, 2025 at 2:58 PM
2026 premiums are posted on HealthCare.gov. I checked out my hometown zip code in Lansing, MI. Someone w/an income less than $2,000/mo who paid $0 for a plan this year would pay $82/mo in 2026. That’s not affordable. Congress needs to act now to extend the PTC enhancements!
Reposted by Jennifer Sullivan
Rhode Island opened window shopping today for 2026 ACA marketplace plans. Because of expiring premium tax credit enhancements, a typical 60-year-old couple making $85,000 will have to pay an additional $18,600 annually for benchmark coverage. (1/4)
October 23, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Rhode Island opened window shopping today for 2026 ACA marketplace plans. Because of expiring premium tax credit enhancements, a typical 60-year-old couple making $85,000 will have to pay an additional $18,600 annually for benchmark coverage. (1/4)
It's imperative that Congress take action to extend the premium tax credit enhancements for the 20 million+ ACA marketplace enrollees who rely on them. In the meantime, enrollees may have concerns. Here are some tips to help navigate this complicated time.
October 22, 2025 at 7:36 PM
It's imperative that Congress take action to extend the premium tax credit enhancements for the 20 million+ ACA marketplace enrollees who rely on them. In the meantime, enrollees may have concerns. Here are some tips to help navigate this complicated time.
Reposted by Jennifer Sullivan
Nearly 1 million people with low incomes would become uninsured if marketplace enrollees lose access to $0 premium plans, as some in Congress have proposed. Coverage loss would mostly occur due to additional red tape.
From @[email protected]: tinyurl.com/2wkzmexn
From @[email protected]: tinyurl.com/2wkzmexn
How would eliminating $0 Marketplace premiums affect insurance coverage? | Brookings
tinyurl.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Nearly 1 million people with low incomes would become uninsured if marketplace enrollees lose access to $0 premium plans, as some in Congress have proposed. Coverage loss would mostly occur due to additional red tape.
From @[email protected]: tinyurl.com/2wkzmexn
From @[email protected]: tinyurl.com/2wkzmexn
More dispatches from states that have posted 2026 premiums: There will be huge increases in Minnesota and Maryland if the PTC enhancements aren't extended.
Minnesota and Maryland also opened window shopping for 2026 ACA marketplace plans, and people are seeing their premiums spike due to expiring tax credit enhancements. A typical 60-year-old Minnesotan couple making $85,000 will face a $15,500 increase in annual premiums. (1/4)
October 14, 2025 at 7:08 PM
More dispatches from states that have posted 2026 premiums: There will be huge increases in Minnesota and Maryland if the PTC enhancements aren't extended.
Here's another state snapshot from my colleague @gidlukens.bsky.social. Nevada marketplace enrollees' premiums will skyrocket if the PTC enhancements are not extended.
Nevada’s 2026 ACA marketplace window shopping is in full swing, 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 Nevada will face a $18,100 increase in annual premiums. (1/4)
October 14, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Here's another state snapshot from my colleague @gidlukens.bsky.social. Nevada marketplace enrollees' premiums will skyrocket if the PTC enhancements are not extended.
Reposted by Jennifer Sullivan
Virginia’s 2026 ACA marketplace window shopping is underway, 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 Virginia will face a $18,000 increase in annual premiums. (1/4)
October 9, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Virginia’s 2026 ACA marketplace window shopping is underway, 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 Virginia will face a $18,000 increase in annual premiums. (1/4)
Reposted by Jennifer Sullivan
Poll finds that the majority of people in the U.S. support #ACA subsidy extension: “According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 93% of ACA enrollees receive the tax credit to help reduce costs”. Read more: spectrumlocalnews.com/us/snplus/he...
Majority of Americans support Affordable Care Act subsidy extension, poll finds
The new survey found 78% of the public would like Congress to extend the credit to people with low and moderate incomes
spectrumlocalnews.com
October 7, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Poll finds that the majority of people in the U.S. support #ACA subsidy extension: “According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 93% of ACA enrollees receive the tax credit to help reduce costs”. Read more: spectrumlocalnews.com/us/snplus/he...
There is no time to delay. No one can afford premium hikes like this, and the solution--extending the premium tax credit enhancements--is clear.
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)
October 7, 2025 at 1:59 PM
There is no time to delay. No one can afford premium hikes like this, and the solution--extending the premium tax credit enhancements--is clear.
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
October 6, 2025 at 8:12 PM
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...
States that will see the largest spikes in their uninsured rates if PTC enhancements expire? Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, West Virginia, Alabama, and Louisiana. Thread from my colleague @gidlukens.bsky.social below:
If premium tax credit enhancements expire, uninsurance will increase 21% overall, with the biggest increases in southern states that haven’t enacted ACA Medicaid expansions. (1/3)
tinyurl.com/yhv9jxm3
tinyurl.com/yhv9jxm3
4.8 Million People Will Lose Coverage in 2026 If Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire
In this brief, we estimate the impact on coverage of the expiration of enhanced PTCs that would occur in 2026 without action by Congress. Our estimates inclu…
tinyurl.com
October 3, 2025 at 7:59 PM
States that will see the largest spikes in their uninsured rates if PTC enhancements expire? Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, West Virginia, Alabama, and Louisiana. Thread from my colleague @gidlukens.bsky.social below:
Reposted by Jennifer Sullivan
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)
October 2, 2025 at 2:46 PM
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)
What do tipped workers, veterans, small business workers, farmers, and older people have in common? All stand to see massive premium hikes if the ACA marketplace premium tax credit enhancements aren't extended. My colleague @gidlukens.bsky.social explains more ⬇️
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)
October 1, 2025 at 8:20 PM
What do tipped workers, veterans, small business workers, farmers, and older people have in common? All stand to see massive premium hikes if the ACA marketplace premium tax credit enhancements aren't extended. My colleague @gidlukens.bsky.social explains more ⬇️