Access to health care at risk for Vermonters as Republicans advance legislation that will gut the Affordable Care Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today urged Congressional Republicans to abandon their disastrous proposed budget plan which would limit Affordable Care Act (ACA) Premium Tax Credits. These credits help low- and moderate-income Vermonters access health coverage.
In 2024, nearly 27,000 Vermonters received ACA Premium Tax Credits to pay for plans provided through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Without Congressional action, these tax credits will expire on December 31, 2025, resulting in rate increases and pushing affordable health care out of reach for thousands of Vermonters.
“We need to do everything possible to remove barriers that prevent Vermonters from accessing affordable health coverage, but that’s the opposite of what Republicans have proposed in their disastrous budget blueprint. These Republican cuts would slash Medicaid and Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credits, making it incredibly challenging to access affordable health care and devastating our state’s already strained health care system,” said Senator Welch. “We should be extending these tax credits—not getting rid of them them.”
This week, the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) of Vermont received the 2026 individual and small group health insurance premium rate filings from BlueCross and BlueShield of Vermont and MVP Health Plan. The average rate increases being requested can be found here.
Final decisions are expected to be issued in August.
Vermonters are encouraged to attend GMCB’s Public Comment Forum on Thursday, July 24, to share their perspectives on how these cuts would impact their ability to access health care. Additional information on these events will be posted to the GMCB website.
Senator Welch has championed bipartisan initiatives to protect Medicaid and lower prescription drug prices for Vermonters. Today, he joined Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Vt.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Protect Our Care for an event slamming House Republicans for advancing a budget that will hike health care costs, close rural hospitals, and threaten access to care for millions of seniors, children, and people living with disabilities.
Earlier this week, Senator Welch joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) for a press conference condemning the Republican budget and cuts to Medicaid.
Additionally, Republicans are raising premiums and out-of-pocket costs for tens of millions of people who buy coverage on their own.
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