The deadline to sign up for health coverage through Pennsylvania’s insurance marketplace, PENNIE, is 15 days away.<\/p>\n
Rising premiums and confusing rules have left thousands of residents concerned and uninsured.<\/p>\n
This year, PENNIE officials say thousands of Pennsylvanians are dropping coverage as premiums rise and federal subsides expire.<\/p>\n
“The federal premium tax credits have gone down for 2026 coverage, which means people are paying more for their coverage. On average, people are paying double,” PENNIE Executive Director Devon Trolley said.<\/p>\n
Officials say enrollment has slowed as prices rise, prompting PENNIE to extend enrollment so residents can explore plans.<\/p>\n
“We wanted to make sure people had enough time to look at all of their plan options,” Trolley said. “There are still some premium tax credits available, even though that number is lower than last year.”<\/p>\n
For many residents, that increase is forcing tough choices.<\/p>\n
“With the ACA subsidies not being extended, my premiums have gone from $393 a month to $1,067.71, which is almost a 170% increase,” one Emmaus resident said.<\/p>\n
Local advocates warn that these higher costs could leave more people uninsured.<\/p>\n
“The health and financial stability of thousands of Lehigh County residents hang in the balance,” another Emmaus resident added. “These are not abstract policy debates.”<\/p>\n
One Whitehall Township resident said, “I’ve seen what happens when supports are taken away. People don’t just fall through the cracks. They end up homeless, incarcerated, or worse, especially when they don’t have family members who can protect them and guide them.”<\/p>\n
PENNIE says help is available for anyone struggling to sign up or decide on a plan.<\/p>\n
“We know health insurance is not everyone’s idea of a fun time and an easy thing to do. So, we have a lot of support available,” Trolley added. “We understand that this is a really tough time with costs going up and just encourage people to really look at all the different options and really kind of look at all the different trade-offs between having coverage or not, because there’s a lot of reasons to stay covered.”<\/p>\n