{"id":24228,"date":"2025-11-04T11:50:51","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T11:50:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/24228\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T11:50:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T11:50:51","slug":"erie-county-residents-get-sticker-shock-after-seeing-obamacare-health-plans-on-pennie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/24228\/","title":{"rendered":"Erie County residents get sticker shock after seeing Obamacare health plans on Pennie"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some Erie County residents are suffering from sticker shock after seeing 2026 health insurance premium prices on Pennie<\/a>, Pennsylvania’s official marketplace for Affordable Care Act plans.<\/p>\n

Higher premiums and the expected expiration of enhanced premium federal tax credits have sent costs soaring for some customers, said Greg Deemer, president of Bayfront Benefit Solutions.<\/p>\n

“I had a client see her monthly premiums go from $180 a month this year to around $400 a month for 2026,” said Deemer, who helps individuals and small businesses in Erie County purchase health insurance. “That’s a huge increase.”<\/p>\n

Health insurance rates were expected to rise in 2026 due to higher claims and the popularity of high-cost GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Deemer said.<\/p>\n

But Congress’ decision, at least for now, not to extend the enhanced federal tax credits<\/a> has turned an expected 12%-21% increase into a 200% increase or more for some people.<\/p>\n

“There are still some tax credits for people who qualify, but the amount will be smaller,” Pennie officials said in a news release. “Individuals who make around $62,000 a year or more (around $84,600 or more for a couple) will not qualify for any tax credits.”<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The open enrollment of the Affordable Care Act of the United States offers a health insurance program for all the U.S. citizens across the country.<\/p>\n

Congress approved the enhanced premium tax credits as part of the American Rescue Plan Act and extended them under the Inflation Reduction Act. They are set to expire Dec. 31.<\/p>\n

The enhanced tax credits increased subsides and expanded eligibility to include people earning more than four times the federal poverty level.<\/p>\n

Only the basic tax credits still remain, unless Congress reaches a deal to extend the premium ones.<\/p>\n

“What is happening is that we now see the 400% cliff again,” Deemer said. “One couple I’m working with will receive a $400 a month tax credit if their income is below $85,000 and nothing if it’s above $85,000.”<\/p>\n

Coupled with the rate increases from health insurers, it’s a double whammy. The premium tax credits also limit premiums to 8.5% of the person’s annual income.<\/p>\n

Those who receive health insurance through an employer are also feeling the pain. Many group plans are increasing by 10% or more, sometimes coupled with higher deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.<\/p>\n

“I have a business client whose insurance is going up 18% in 2026,” Deemer said. “He’s eating the increase himself but telling his employees that there won’t be any raises next year.”<\/p>\n

Deemer worried people will choose cheap plans with poor coverage<\/p>\n

Sixty-one plans are available to Erie County residents on the Pennie website. All of them are either Highmark or UPMC Health Plan.<\/p>\n

Deemer is afraid that people will choose less-expensive plans with reduced coverage just to afford the monthly premiums. The concern is that they could pay much more out of pocket if they require a hospital stay or expensive medications.<\/p>\n

“Right now, I’m recommending that people hold on for a few weeks and see if Congress extends the premium tax credits,” Deemer said. “The deadline is Dec. 15, so we have some time.”<\/p>\n

Contact David Bruce at\u00a0dbruce@gannett.com<\/a>. Follow him on X\u00a0@ETNBruce<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: ‘That’s a huge increase.’ Pennie’s health plans spark sticker shock<\/a><\/p>\n