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Rep. Krishnamoorthi warns ACA tax credit lapse will hit coverage
The congressman met with patients and staff to hear about rising premiums, coverage uncertainty and growing strain on community health centers.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 06, Jan 2026
- 14:26 EST
- 23
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Raja Krishnamoorthi / File Photo
Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi on Jan. 5 warned that the expiration of Affordable Care Act tax credits will raise insurance costs and threaten coverage across Illinois.
“Families were hit overnight with massive premium hikes because congressional Republicans refused to act,” Krishnamoorthi said during a visit to the Bronzeville Community Health Center on Chicago’s South Side.
Also Read: Rep. Krishnamoorthi to step down from China panel role
The congressman met with patients and staff to hear about rising premiums, coverage uncertainty and growing strain on community health centers. He was joined by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Health officials, patients and health care providers to highlight the impact of Congress’s failure to extend enhanced ACA premium tax credits, which expired at midnight on Dec. 31.
“People who did everything right are now being priced out of care, not because they made a mistake, but because Republican leadership chose politics over patients. I’m fighting to restore these ACA tax credits because affordable health care should not disappear overnight. Congress can fix this by reversing these cuts, protecting Medicaid, and keeping families covered,” he told the audience.
Preckwinkle said local governments should not be forced to make up for federal cuts. “Local governments should not have to backfill for federal disinvestment,” she said. “Health care is a right, and we at Cook County will continue to deliver care with compassion and excellence. We will also continue to prove that even in the face of federal cuts, a values-driven public health system can protect lives, strengthen communities and uphold the dignity of every person we serve.”
Cook County Health CEO Erik Mikaitis said the lapse of the subsidies threatens to undo recent coverage gains. “Allowing ACA subsidies to expire will reverse health coverage gains, destabilize safety-net systems, and negatively impact working families and communities across Illinois,” he said.
More than 550,000 Illinois residents are enrolled in the ACA marketplace in 2025, including more than 360,000 in Cook County. About 90 percent of those enrollees rely on premium tax credits to afford coverage. Without the credits, average monthly ACA premiums in Cook County are projected to rise by about 95 percent.
Health officials said the coverage losses are likely to increase pressure on emergency rooms and public clinics, adding strain to Cook County Health, one of the region’s largest safety-net systems.
Krishnamoorthi said he will push legislation to restore the tax credits, warning that without action, coverage losses and financial strain on safety-net providers will continue to grow.
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