Iowans face huge insurance premium hikes as Iowa GOP toes party line in DC
Feenstra, Hinson, Miller-Meeks, and Nunn already voted for huge health care cuts earlier this year
Washington – Iowans have been raising the alarm for months about the looming expiration of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act that help Iowa families afford health insurance. As the country faces the highest premium increases in 15 years, Iowa Republicans have chosen to follow their party and jack up insurance premiums even more.
This week, Republicans in DC rolled out a continuing resolution that does not extend the ACA subsidies. The move guarantees “sticker shock” for families when open enrollment begins November 1. Governors warned Congress of the consequences of failing to include an extension of the subsidies in a letter earlier this week:
“Insurers are already setting 2026 rates. If Congress acts quickly, states can lock in lower premiums and spare families a wave of sticker shock this fall. If not, the damage will be felt for years.”
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation:
- Iowa insurers have requested premium increases of between 12-26% for 2026
- About half of adults with ACA marketplace coverage are small business owners or employees or self-employed
- Combined with Medicaid cuts under the Republican budget bill, over 100k Iowans could lose insurance by 2034
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