AHIP

AHIP President & CEO Mike Tuffin issued the following statement today:   “The enhanced tax credits that millions of American families rely on for financial security and affordable access to care expire this year. Consumers in some states are already ‘window shopping’ and learning what expiration of the health care tax credits would mean for them – which according to the Kaiser Family Foundation is an average premium increase of 114 percent in 2026.   “There are challenges associated with implementing a late extension of the health care tax credits, but these challenges are not insurmountable – particularly if there is continuity in policy for 2026. There is still time to protect 24 million Americans from the largest spike in health care costs in history and there is still time to ensure consumers see immediate relief in 2026. If the tax credits are extended, health insurers will work quickly with regulators and do everything they can to help consumers understand their updated coverage choices for 2026.”

More than 180 million Americans rely on employer-provided health coverage for affordable access to care, effective ways to improve health, and financial security. Here are five things to know about employer-provided coverage: https://lnkd.in/eU7a752T

With just weeks until open enrollment begins, news reports underscore the importance of extending the premium tax credits that have made comprehensive health care coverage affordable for 22 million Americans. Congress should take action to extend the tax credits as soon as possible. Read more coverage from around the country: https://lnkd.in/e-zuUEMp

A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) underscores that provider consolidation is driving health care costs higher without improving access or quality for patients. These findings are yet another reminder that provider consolidation reduces competition and drives up prices for consumers, employers, and public programs.    Policymakers should advance bipartisan solutions to bolster provider competition, increase transparency, and lower costs – such as enacting common-sense site-neutral payment reforms to protect Americans from being overcharged by providers. Read more -> https://lnkd.in/eBMtGpYG

Americans living in rural communities will disproportionately experience higher costs if Congress fails to extend the health care tax credits. A recent report estimates that they would face an average 107 percent increase in premium costs—18 percentage points more than Americans in urban areas.  Enhanced premium tax credits have been a lifeline for rural communities, but data shows the uninsured population in more rural states would increase dramatically if Congress allows the tax credits to expire. Read more -> https://lnkd.in/e7kxXYWR

New research from KFF reveals nearly half of Americans who have health care coverage through the individual market are employed by a small business or are self-employed entrepreneurs. The vast majority of these self-employed and small business owners rely on the premium tax credits to make coverage more affordable. If Congress fails to extend the tax credits before they expire, millions of Americans will face an affordability crisis – and the stakes go beyond affordable health coverage. Protecting Americans’ coverage is key to supporting entrepreneurship and economic growth. The solution is clear: Congress must act as quickly as possible to extend the health care tax credits. Learn more -> https://lnkd.in/eUUt6hU4

The enhanced premium tax credits make quality, comprehensive health care coverage affordable for millions of lower- and middle-income Americans—working families, early retirees, entrepreneurs, farmers, gig workers and others whose costs will rise steeply if Congress fails to act. Congress must take action as quickly as possible to protect middle income Americans from this affordability crisis. Read more -> https://lnkd.in/e-CJJZxV

The health care tax credits are a lifeline for Americans who do not have access to employer-provided coverage and are not yet eligible for Medicare. Congress must act as quickly as possible to extend them. Read more-> https://lnkd.in/eKqWZ8nn

When coverage and benefits for 35 million seniors are on the line, the facts matter. A new Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC) report is a must-read on the flaws with MedPAC’s recent analysis of Medicare Advantage (MA) vs. fee-for-service:  • Context matters: MedPAC overlooks the added value MA delivers—like supplemental benefits, lower out-of-pocket costs, and care coordination.  • Flaws on “favorable selection”: MedPAC’s estimate of “favorable selection” excludes large segments of MA enrollees, skewing results.  • Coding overstated: A new method inflates “coding intensity,” doubling the supposed cost gap. Independent research consistently shows MA offers better benefits and affordability without higher costs for seniors or taxpayers. Policymakers should demand rigorous, transparent analysis based on facts, not faulty assumptions. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ekBKwEjF

Congress designed the No Surprises Act to protect American patients, not pad private equity’s profits. But a new analysis from Georgetown University's Center on Health Insurance Reforms shows how PE-backed groups abuse the arbitration process intended to resolve surprise billing disputes – leading to $5 billion in unnecessary costs for American employers and consumers. Read more: https://lnkd.in/emKBUhPa