Michigan Advance: McDonald Rivet calls on Congress to preserve health care tax credits

U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet joined with members of the nonpartisan Citizens Research Council and Protect Our Care Michigan on Tuesday, with the Bay City Democrat asking her peers in Congress to extend tax credits helping thousands of Michiganders pay for health insurance. 

While Congressional Republicans renewed several provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Congress has not taken steps to renew the Enhanced Premium Tax Credit, which were established through the Affordable Care Act in 2010 and expanded by the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021. 

According to KFF, these credits save Michiganders an average of $449 a month.

Health care premiums are expected to rise substantially if the credits are allowed to expire at the end of 2025, with the Citizens Research Council warning premiums would increase by 70% in Michigan. 

“Costs are already way too high, and tariffs are only making things worse. Families and seniors in my district can’t afford an extra $730 for their insurance premiums,” said McDonald Rivet, whose district covers Saginaw and Bay counties, most of Genesee County and parts of Tuscola and Midland counties.

According to the council, these premium tax credits effectively create a cap on the price of health insurance plans for individuals. Since the introduction of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credit, nationwide coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace has doubled.

The Big Beautiful Bill Act also cut funds from several programs, including $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, which is expected to strip care away from hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents, carrying negative impacts for hospitals, particularly those in rural areas. 

“The impact of people not buying private insurance through the Marketplace will likely have cascading effects across the state, much in the same way that the Medicaid cuts are expected to,” Robert Schneider, a senior research associate for the council said in a statement. “More uninsured people means health care costs will go up for everyone in the form of higher health insurance premiums, while hospitals will see more uncompensated care, leading to reduced services and even closure. Combined with cuts to Medicaid, health care in our state faces a downward spiral that will put people’s health, safety and well-being at risk.”