Conservatives Highlight Urgency to Avert a Health Care Tax Hike

Congress Must Extend Premium Tax Credits (PTCs) to Avoid Higher Health Care Costs, Lost Coverage and Devastating Consequences for Hardworking Americans

Congress secured a historic victory for President Trump and the American people by passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which extends critical tax cuts and advances many additional solutions to unleash greater prosperity.

But unless Congress acts, that victory could be undercut by a massive health care tax hike set to hit millions of hardworking Americans when premium tax credits (PTCs) they rely on to purchase affordable health insurance coverage expire at the end of this year.

Conservative leaders in Washington are increasingly sounding the alarm on the urgency to avert this looming health care tax hike.

“If we don’t [extend the tax credits], the cost of insurance is just going to explode. Explode for families, working people across the nation. I mean, already we’re seeing the premium increases are just unbelievable. We’re looking anywhere from 10 to 30 percent increases in the cost of health insurance […] we could see people paying double what they’re paying now […] We have to do something about it.”
— U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO)

“Expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits is an important issue. […] it’s an important issue that we have to look at. It’s kind of a cliff; I don’t think we should have a cliff in terms of those people who are relying on that for their health care.”
— U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK)

“That [more than 4 million people could lose health insurance coverage] can’t happen, especially in my state.”
— U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)

Leading conservative voices from around the nation are also calling on Congress to stop this impending health care tax hike on hardworking Americans.

“I’d love to flip some seats, but if we start taking away tax credits, we’re not going to win any seats. […] This is not hard. This should be on the next reconciliation. It ought to be blown through there before the tax credits expire.”
— Hugh Hewitt, The Hugh Hewitt Show

“Health insurance is expensive as it is. Everybody, I think in theory, would like to have it and needs it, but what you don’t need are additional tax hikes on the thing. You know, we talked a lot about the Big, Beautiful Bill passing, which was great news, but we didn’t tackle this health insurance factor, and that’s something everybody needs to be eyes wide open about […] This is critically important to anybody that pays for their own health insurance. So, do get engaged. I think it’ll be handled. I think the Republicans who control Congress by a whisker will tackle this this year with your encouragement.”
— Chris Stigall, The Chris Stigall Show

“This is an important issue, because key health care tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year. If that occurs, 24 million Americans face skyrocketing health care costs. Millions may lose their coverage entirely. Congress has to act to protect these vital tax credits for Americans who happen to buy their own health insurance […] The One Big Beautiful Bill passed – now it’s important to prevent a devastating health care tax hike.”
— Mike Gallagher, The Mike Gallagher Show

“Rural communities would be especially hard hit [by the health care tax hike], with job losses, fewer providers, and reduced access to care. Congress must act now to protect these vital tax credits for Americans who buy their own health insurance.”
— Larry Elder, The Larry Elder Show

Pollsters for President Trump’s campaign are warning of dire political consequences for Republicans and the Trump agenda if Congress fails to extend the premium tax credits (PTCs) in the individual health care marketplace.

“Our survey of voters in the most competitive Congressional Districts shows Republicans have an opportunity to overcome a current generic ballot deficit and take the lead by extending the healthcare premium tax credits for those who purchase health insurance for themselves. Without Congressional action, the tax credit expires this year […] Republicans can position themselves ahead of Democrats in these districts by extending the premium tax credit and using the individual market as a landing spot for working age adults on Medicaid.”
— Trump Campaign Pollster Tony Fabrizio

“These are working Americans who buy through the individual marketplace. […] [President Trump] rebuilt the Republican Party so that it’s now a working-class coalition. Basically, the caddies are running the country club, but the caddies need health care. We need to make sure these working people can keep their health care. And when you asked about, ‘do they support preserving the tax credits?’ This is all voters. All voters support preserving the premium tax credits to continue to lower health care costs and access for hard working Americans.”
— Trump Campaign Pollster John McLaughlin

The Fabrizio Ward survey (July 7-10) of likely voters in the most competitive U.S. House districts found “the generic Republican is down 3-points among all registered voters. Among those most motivated to vote, an early indication of vote likelihood in the midterms, the Republican is down 7-points. If the Republican candidate lets the premium tax credit expire, the Republican trails the Democrat by 15-points. There is broad bipartisan support for the tax credit and their extension…. The Republican candidate that supports that policy would lead the Democrat on the generic ballot by 6-points overall, and among those most motivated to vote by 4-points, completely changing the political dynamic to the Republican’s favor.”

The McLaughlin & Associates national survey of likely voters (June 16-19) found “4 in 5 voters (83% to 10%) support the Premium Tax Credits in the marketplace that help lower health plan costs for working class Americans. Three-quarters (74%) support preserving the Premium Tax Credits versus only 11% who support ending the tax credits (15% unsure). The strong desire to protect the Premium Tax Credits cuts across all political and demographic groups.”

In addition, the McLaughlin survey found, “three-quarters (77%) are MORE likely to vote for a candidate for U.S. Senate or Congress who voted to preserve the Premium Tax Credit to continue providing lower health care costs and help millions of Americans maintain their coverage, avoiding a massive health care tax hike: 73% Trump voters, 76% Republicans, 82% Democrats, and 72% Independents.”

Read more about the urgency to avert a massive health care tax hike for millions of hardworking Americans HERE.