Miller-Meeks votes against tax credits that make health care affordable for Iowans

Today, Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks had the opportunity to reinstate health care tax credits that make health care affordable for over 100,000 Iowans but voted against lowering health care costs for her constituents.

Miller-Meeks’ vote, had she succeeded, would have ensured that thousands of Iowans continue to either pay hundreds of dollars more a month or forgo health insurance entirely. This vote is not an isolated incident. Miller-Meeks has repeatedly voted to cut Medicaid funding and took part in causing the longest government shutdown in history in order to prevent affordable health care. Her “NO” vote today is part of a broader pattern: Republicans in Congress continue to prioritize tax breaks for wealthy corporations and billionaires over the health care needs of everyday Americans. 

Dr. Jake Thomas, a physician and small business owner in Miller-Meeks’ district, said that he is witnessing firsthand how unaffordable health care hurts Iowans. 

“Without these tax credits, premiums are now two to four times higher than last year,” Dr. Thomas said. “Parents are sitting at kitchen tables doing the math and realizing they can’t afford coverage for their kids. Seniors who aren’t yet eligible for Medicare are panicking as premiums jump hundreds of dollars a month. Small business owners—people who work nonstop and play by the rules—are wondering if staying insured is even possible. As a doctor, I can tell you exactly what happens next: they skip check-ups, stretch medications, or avoid getting care. Then, they show up later, sicker, and more expensive to treat; no one wins.”