Congressman Darren Soto released a statement on Mar. 23 to mark the 16th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act by President Barack Obama. Soto said that over 275,000 constituents in Florida’s Ninth Congressional District are enrolled in the program, which is the second-highest enrollment figure in the nation.
Soto said that millions of Americans gained access to quality and affordable healthcare through the law. He highlighted that “through the addition of the Premium Tax Credit, millions saw their insurance premiums lowered by thousands of dollars per year.” However, he also addressed concerns about rising costs: “Republicans’ refusal to extend the credit has caused the American people to see their healthcare costs skyrocket, and many have been forced to go without coverage as a result.” He added that while House Democrats passed a three-year extension with bipartisan support, “the Senate has failed to act for months as families continue struggling to make ends meet.”
On this anniversary, Soto met with constituents who have benefited from Obamacare and local healthcare providers who are witnessing price increases firsthand. Max Gebhardt, a constituent from FL-09, shared his experience: “As a small business owner, I couldn’t afford health insurance on my own. The Affordable Care Act changed that. When I needed a liver transplant, having that coverage meant I actually had a fighting chance. Honestly, I don’t know where I’d be without it.” A video featuring Rep. Soto and Max’s father was also made available.
David Shimp, Chief Executive Officer at HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, commented on how policy affects patient care: “The Affordable Care Act has been critical in ensuring more Floridians can access care when they need it… Preserving and strengthening coverage options is essential to improving health outcomes and keeping our communities healthy.”
According to data referenced by Soto’s office during these discussions in FL-09, about 273,000 people are seeing their health care costs rise and around 105,000 may lose access to coverage if current policies remain unchanged. Nationally cited figures show that ending ACA Premium Tax Credits resulted in doubled or tripled premiums for over 20 million Americans; one-third of individuals buying their own plans reduced their coverage; marketplace enrollment dropped by one million.
The discussion comes amid ongoing debates about extending tax credits under ACA provisions as families face higher costs or risk losing insurance.
