Miller-Meeks and Nunn Choose Potential Government Shutdown Over Lower Health Care Costs for Iowans

Skipping town and refusing to address the problem they created. 

Meanwhile, Iowans are sounding the alarm about what the end to health care tax credits means for them. 

DCCC Spokesperson Katie Smith:
“Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn have chosen to force tens of thousands of their constituents to pay nearly double for their health care – or lose coverage all together. Miller-Meeks and Nunn would rather shut down the government than do anything to lower Iowans’ health care costs.” 

Read more about the Iowans who will be hurt by Miller-Meeks and Nunn’s absolute failure of leadership: 

The Gazette: What ACA subsidy expiration means for Iowa families as shutdown looms

• Iowa Democrats warned Friday that tens of thousands of Iowans could face skyrocketing health insurance premiums or lose coverage altogether if Republicans in Congress fail to extend expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits.
• A central sticking point in negotiations to avert a partial shutdown is whether to extend the expiring health insurance subsidies that cap monthly insurance premiums for those who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces.
• Nick Larson, a farmer from Walker, said his family of five buys coverage through the ACA marketplace after he retired early from a corporate job after 27 years to focus on his small farming operation. 
• “The ACA allows millions of self-employed Americans like me to use tax credits to offset the increasing cost of health insurance for their families,” Larson said.
• He said the family buys a high-deductible plan and pays around $400 per month, comparable to what they paid under employer-sponsored plans.
• Terry Anderson, a veteran from Ankeny, shared his experience caring for his 39-year-old son, who has cerebral palsy and blindness and relies on Medicaid. 
• If Congress fails to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, Iowans could see steep hikes in their health insurance premiums, according to an analysis by health policy organization KFF.
• Lori Hunt, 53, a breast cancer survivor from Des Moines, lost her nonprofit job in late 2024. She now relies on premium tax credits to afford health insurance that covers costly screenings, MRIs and prescriptions. With the credits, she pays just $8 a month. Without them, her premiums would spike to between $650 and $750 — more than her mortgage.
• “I could not afford it. I could not. I would have to cancel it,” Hunt said, which would mean putting off care and the kind of screenings that helped her catch cancer early.
• Hunt said she wants Congress to “do its job” and negotiate a bipartisan plan to keep coverage within reach.
• Amber Gustafson, 48, lives in Ankeny with her three children and her husband, who runs a small manufacturing equipment company employing about 10 people. They rely on ACA tax credits to afford high-quality health insurance, including for two children with disabilities.
• They receive a $250 monthly tax credit to help offset their premiums. But with Blue Cross Blue Shield set to raise rates by 12 percent next year, they face a $500 monthly increase if the subsidies expire.
• Gustafson called on lawmakers to recognize the strain facing small-business owners who shoulder the full cost of family health insurance.

• Democrats are increasing pressure on Republicans to extend Obamacare subsidies that have helped keep health care plans affordable.
• Democrats are seeking to ensure that any funding bill reverses Medicaid cuts Republicans passed earlier this year and extends enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that are slated to expire at the end of 2025 without congressional action.
• Democratic challengers already have gone on the offensive to condemn reduced federal spending on Medicaid under Republicans’ sprawling tax and spending law, dubbed the “Big, Beautiful Bill.”
• Insurers in the ACA marketplace — including several in Iowa — are citing the impending lapse of the subsidies as a reason they’re requesting approval from state regulators to increase individual health insurance rates. That means millions of Americans would see their health insurance premiums spike come 2026 if the subsidies are allowed to expire.
• A bipartisan group of about 20 lawmakers is pursuing legislation that would extend the enhanced credits for one year… Iowa’s four GOP U.S. House lawmakers had not signed onto the effort as of Sept. 26. 
• [Walker farmer Nick] Larson said his family does not qualify for employer-sponsored health insurance and instead relies on the ACA marketplace.
• “If the current ACA law provisions expire at the end of 2025, our family will realize an immediate tax increase of at least $3,000 per year,” he said. “… The ACA allows millions of self-employed Americans like me to use tax credits to offset the increasing cost of health insurance for their families.”
• According to a recent analysis by health policy organization KFF, 27% of farmers, ranchers and agricultural managers received health insurance coverage through the individual market in 2023, rather than through employer-sponsored coverage.
• KFF also found that more than 90% of those who get their coverage through the individual market do so through the ACA marketplace, with 93% also receiving a tax credit to help lower premium costs.

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