On Long Island, the average increase for about 28,000 people with subsidized ACA plans would be 32%, according to data from the state Department of Health. Another 70,000 who now pay no premiums will\u00a0have to pay something no matter what \u2014 but more without a subsidy extension.<\/p>\n
“Millions of low- and middle-income Americans are facing a looming health care affordability crisis,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said in\u00a0a virtual news conference Wednesday. Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, said discussions about extending the subsidies shouldn’t be tied to the shutdown, and some support proposals to temporarily extend the aid.<\/p>\n
WHAT NEWSDAY FOUNDThe government shutdown is hitting home for tens of thousands of Long Islanders who would face increases in their health insurance premiums \u00a0\u2014 in some cases thousands of dollars a year \u00a0\u2014 if government subsidies aren\u2019t extended on Jan. 1.The average increase for the 28,000 Long Islanders who have subsidized Affordable Care Act plans would be 32%, according to state estimates. Another 70,000 who now pay no premiums will have to pay something no matter what \u2014 but more without a subsidy extension.At issue are enhanced ACA subsidies first enacted in 2021 but that are scheduled to expire Dec. 31. Democrats demanded those subsidies be made permanent in exchange for their support for a government funding bill. Republicans said discussion of the subsidies shouldn\u2019t be linked to a shutdown.<\/p>\n
Many of those who receive government help with their health insurance premiums under the 2021 changes are middle class families with household incomes in the six figures. But with housing, property taxes and other costs so high on Long Island, those families would struggle to pay hundreds of dollars each month in market-rate health insurance premiums, said Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of the nonprofit Health and Welfare Council of Long Island.<\/p>\n
“These are our middle-income individuals that either do not have health insurance through their employer, because the employer is small, or they are an independent contractor, or they just have subpar insurance through their employer, and they want to ensure that they have the appropriate insurance to address their health issues,” she said.<\/p>\n
The ACA has always subsidized premiums for people below certain incomes. The 2021 changes increased the amount of those subsidies for people across income levels and raised eligibility levels, including for the first time people with incomes 400% or more above the federal poverty level \u2014 $62,600 for an individual or $128,600 for a family of four nationally.<\/p>\n
The average person or family nationwide that receives enhanced subsidies under the 2021 law would see their premiums more than double, according to an analysis<\/a>\u00a0released Sept. 30 by San Francisco-based health research organization KFF.<\/p>\n