The executive director of Covered California spoke today about growing concerns that health care premium costs could rise drastically with the upcoming expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies.As of June 2025, there are 35,000 Covered California enrollees across Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties. About 24,000 of those enrollees rely on subsidized pricing to keep their health care costs affordable.“This region is one of the most expensive regions for health care in the state of California,” Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman said.She emphasized the importance of having health coverage despite rising costs.“When things happen, it is so critical to have that financial protection in place so that you have an insurance company that is paying for that very high cost of, say, going to a hospital. And that’s not falling on your family and your budget,” she said.The enrollment period has opened and will run through Jan. 31, 2026. You must enroll by Dec. 31, 2025, if you want your coverage to begin on the first day of the new year.Rep. Jimmy Panetta, who represents California’s 19th Congressional District, said he has spoken with multiple families in the area about their concerns as Congress continues to debate extending the subsidies.“What I’ve heard is absolute fear and bemusement about how they could let these tax credits expire. This is something that they’ve relied on in order to have health care for not just themselves but their families,” Panetta said.Panetta was among 214 Democrats who signed a discharge petition forcing a vote on extending the subsidies for three years. Four Republicans crossed the aisle, giving the petition the 218 signatures needed to force the vote.It is unlikely the vote will happen before the subsidies expire.Panetta, though, remains hopeful.“You just hope leadership listens to Congress and puts the vote up this week instead of waiting until after the credits expire,” he said.

SALINAS, Calif. —

The executive director of Covered California spoke today about growing concerns that health care premium costs could rise drastically with the upcoming expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies.

As of June 2025, there are 35,000 Covered California enrollees across Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties. About 24,000 of those enrollees rely on subsidized pricing to keep their health care costs affordable.

“This region is one of the most expensive regions for health care in the state of California,” Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman said.

She emphasized the importance of having health coverage despite rising costs.

“When things happen, it is so critical to have that financial protection in place so that you have an insurance company that is paying for that very high cost of, say, going to a hospital. And that’s not falling on your family and your budget,” she said.

The enrollment period has opened and will run through Jan. 31, 2026. You must enroll by Dec. 31, 2025, if you want your coverage to begin on the first day of the new year.

Rep. Jimmy Panetta, who represents California’s 19th Congressional District, said he has spoken with multiple families in the area about their concerns as Congress continues to debate extending the subsidies.

“What I’ve heard is absolute fear and bemusement about how they could let these tax credits expire. This is something that they’ve relied on in order to have health care for not just themselves but their families,” Panetta said.

Panetta was among 214 Democrats who signed a discharge petition forcing a vote on extending the subsidies for three years. Four Republicans crossed the aisle, giving the petition the 218 signatures needed to force the vote.

It is unlikely the vote will happen before the subsidies expire.

Panetta, though, remains hopeful.

“You just hope leadership listens to Congress and puts the vote up this week instead of waiting until after the credits expire,” he said.