37 patient groups: Patients and families suffer dire consequences due to Congressional inaction

Today, 37 nonpartisan, non-profit patient organizations issued the following statement in response to Congress’s failure to renew the expiring enhanced premium tax credits (eAPTCs) before the beginning of the open enrollment period. In most states, open enrollment for the 2026 plan year begins tomorrow, Nov. 1. 

“Tomorrow, millions of Americans who rely on eAPTCs to access high-quality insurance will be met with sticker shock when they log on to sign up for their 2026 plan year. The stakes are especially real for small business owners, farmers, early retirees and patients living with serious health conditions who will face premiums that are now out of reach. 

“This is not hyperbole: Congressional Budget Office estimates suggest that 1.5 million people will lose health coverage if Congress delays acting until December. Patients and families simply cannot afford to pay for Congress’s failure to act—or for their delays. 

“The Partnership to Protect Coverage has repeatedly called on Congress to renew eAPTCs, and the consequences of Congressional inaction are now dire. We know that access to healthcare remains among the most pressing concerns for the people we represent, especially as cost of living continues to increase. Many will be forced to choose between maintaining their coverage and meeting other basic needs like housing, food, or utilities. This will be a devastating and entirely preventable blow to the health and financial well-being of the communities we serve.

“Millions of Americans—including patients with pre-existing conditions, like the groups we represent— rely on the Affordable Care Act marketplace and eAPTCs for high-quality, affordable healthcare. If young healthy enrollees aren’t able to afford their premiums, the Marketplace will become unbalanced. A risk pool full of only the sickest Americans will only cause premiums to further spiral out of control.

“Ensuring access to health insurance is a nonpartisan issue—one that affects individuals and families in every state and district across the country. Today with one voice, we urge Congress to extend eAPTCs. Americans can’t afford more delays.”

AiArthritis 
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network 
American Heart Association 
American Kidney Fund 
American Lung Association 
Arthritis Foundation 
Autoimmune Association 
Blood Cancer United, formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 
Cancer Nation 
Cancer Support Community 
CancerCare 
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation 
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 
Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition 
Epilepsy Foundation of America 
Hemophilia Federation of America 
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association 
Immune Deficiency Foundation 
Legal Action Center 
Lupus Foundation of America L
utheran Services in America 
March of Dimes 
Muscular Dystrophy Association 
National Alliance on Mental Illness 
National Bleeding Disorders Foundation 
National Health Council 
National Kidney Foundation 
National Multiple Sclerosis Society 
National Organization for Rare Disorders 
National Patient Advocate Foundation 
Pulmonary Hypertension Association 
Susan G. Komen 
The AIDS Institute 
The Coalition for Hemophilia B 
UsAgainstAlzheimer's 
WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease 
ZERO Prostate Cancer