The tax credits were put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic to help ACA enrollees pay for health insurance. Efforts failed last month to include it in the “Big, Beautiful Act” signed into law by President Donald Trump. The tax credits are now set to expire at the end of the year. <\/p>\n
Without a tax credit extension, say the Hispanic business groups, health insurance premiums are expected to rise 75% on average next year<\/a>. It\u2019s up to Congress and Trump to extend it. In Florida, insurers may increase premiums between 15% and 41%.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Congress fails to act, families could face skyrocketing premiums, widespread coverage losses, and major disruptions to [South Florida\u2019s] health system and workforce,\u201d said the Hispanic groups in a joint statement on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Julio Fuentes, President and CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, speaks at a news conference Tuesday, August 26, 2025, to urge Congress and President Trump to extend tax credits to help people enrolled in the Affordable Care Act pay for health insurance premiums<\/p>\n Julio Fuentes, President and CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce told WLRN that he expects many of those enrolled in ACA to go uninsured because premiums will be unaffordable.<\/p>\n “We’re asking Congress to extend this tax credit so that true Americans who are doing things by the book by working and contributing to the economy could continue to grow their business and do the right thing,” he said.<\/p>\n Marquis Moore, a Miami contractor, said he doesn\u2019t even want to think about paying hundreds of dollars more a month for his health insurance. He\u2019s currently paying roughly $30 monthly and has been enrolled in ACA for more than a year.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn’t have insurance before, so this was a blessing to get it,\u201d said Moore, who said he has pre-existing medical conditions.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope Congress will make it affordable for people like me,\u201d he told WLRN following Tuesday’s press conference. \u201cI hate to think about the other option of not having health insurance.\u201d<\/p>\n Francoise Cham, a single 63-year-old mother from Miami told WLRN that she pays about $50 a month for health insurance for her and her 20-year-old daughter, who is in college.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not a luxury, this is a necessity,\u201d said Cham, who is self-employed as a logistics consultant.<\/p>\n Michelle Febres, an insurance broker for South Florida employers, said her clients worry about health insurance costs rising for everyone.<\/p>\n “When coverage disappears, we all pay \u2014 from overflowing [hospital] emergency rooms to higher premiums for all of our insurance plans,” said Febres, who is vice president at National Marketing Group Services<\/a> and chair-elect of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.<\/p>\n “If you buy health insurance through the individual [ACA] Marketplace, you’re almost certainly paying less \u2014 often hundreds or even thousands of dollars less \u2014 because of these tax credits,” she said. “Most people don’t realize they’re receiving them, since the funds go directly to insurance companies to reduce monthly premiums.”<\/p>\n Febres noted that a family of four could see their health insurance premium go up 88% to $2,947 a year if the tax credits are not extended.<\/p>\n In Florida, those who buy health insurance through the ACA Marketplace could see premiums go up between 18% and 40%, according to the latest estimates. That may affect nearly 5 million Floridians, a state with among the highest number of ACA enrollees in the nation.<\/p>\n At a statewide press conference Monday, Scott Darius, executive director of Florida Voices for Health, said he is concerned how Floridians will react to the likely premium increases.<\/p>\n \u201cI can only imagine the shock that Floridians will feel this November as they\u2019re considering health insurance plans for 2026 and find out just how much they will be paying out of pocket,\u201d said \u201cThese proposed rate increases are the realization of fears held by advocates for the last few months.”<\/p>\n Darius is urging Floridians to sign a petition<\/a> to put Medicaid expansion on the statewide ballot in November 2026. <\/p>\n The proposed constitutional amendment petition is organized by Florida Decides Healthcare<\/a>. They need 881,000 signatures to qualify for the 2026 ballot. <\/p>\n _________<\/p>\n To find and contact your U.S. House of Representatives member, you can use the following link and enter your Zip Code. Nine House representatives serve South Florida. To find and contact Sen. Rick Scott and Sen. Ashley Moody, who represent Floridians in the U.S. Senate, you can find contact information with the following links: For Sen. Rick Scott, use the following link:<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.house.gov\/representatives\/find-your-representative<\/a>
You will be asked to enter your Zip Code again to verify you are a constituent of the congressional district.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.senate.gov\/senators\/senators-contact.htm<\/a><\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.rickscott.senate.gov\/contact\/contact<\/a><\/p>\n