Iowans at Risk as House Prepares to Vote on Bringing Back ACA Health Care Tax Credits
Action is needed now as Iowans grapple with drastic premium increases
Des Moines, IA — Tomorrow, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on a critical measure to bring back the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits for three years, a move that could put a stop to massive premium hikes and coverage loss for working families across Iowa.
Because of Congressional Republicans, including Representatives Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, these tax credits expired on December 31, 2025, putting more than 136,000 Iowans at risk of losing coverage or paying thousands more for health insurance.
“I am a constituent of Representative Miller-Meeks, and I'm one of those 136,000 Iowans directly impacted by the loss of the health care tax credits. With the help of those tax credits, I paid about $900 a year for my health insurance premiums. Without them, that cost has jumped to over $9,000 a year, a tenfold increase, and that’s before factoring in higher copays, higher deductibles, and much higher out-of-pocket maximums.” Jill Kordick said.
Like many people, I am now actively managing risk, managing day-to-day finances, and deferring care. I think twice before scheduling appointments. I weigh medical needs against everyday expenses, housing, utilities, groceries, and make tradeoffs no one should have to make just to stay insured. That is not what ‘having insurance’ is supposed to mean.”
The measure before the House would help restore coverage for millions of Americans who rely on the vital health care tax credits, protect Iowans from skyrocketing premiums that have already doubled, and provide three years of stability for working families, small business owners, and rural communities.
In a recent podcast interview, Zach Nunn claims he’s “laser focused” on lowering health care costs, but his failure to bring back ACA tax credits before they expired tells a different story. “Iowans are paying skyrocketing premiums, and Nunn blames ‘Obamacare’ and insurance companies instead of owning his inaction,” Mazie Stilwell, Executive Director at Progress Iowa said. “Political talking points won’t help the Iowa families who have been stripped of affordable health care, but bringing back these tax credits would. Meanwhile, the things Nunn has been laser-focused on are passing more tax breaks for billionaires and supporting tariffs that raise prices for Iowans.”
“The choice for House Republicans is clear,” Stilwell added. “They can vote to bring back health tax credits and lower costs for Iowans, or they can continue to let families pay the price of the affordability crisis they created.”