In an editorial, Knitty Gritty JC member Gerald Miller makes the case that Republicans have made health insurance and healthcare unaffordable in Hudson County.
Republicans by not extending credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have made health care unaffordable for many Hudson County residents.
Under New Jersey’s implementation of the ACA, nearly 70,000 residents in Congressional District 8, which encompasses much of Hudson County, are enrolled in ACA health coverage.
When the enhanced tax credits expire at the end of this year, 90 per cent of these enrolled residents, that is more than 62 thousand, will be forced to pay more for their health insurance.
Consider these real-world examples that Hudson County families would face: a family of four in Hudson County with a household income of $155,000 would see a premium increase of $11,353 for the year without the enhanced tax credits, a 60% increase that would consume almost 20% of their income.
A couple in their early 60s in Hudson County with a household income of $83,200 would see a premium increase of $17,743 for the year because of the loss of the enhanced tax credits.
That is a 272% increase which would consume almost 30% of their income.
When Republicans passed their Big Brutal Budget, they not only chose not to extend the ACA tax, but they also cut more than $1 trillion from human needs programs over 10 years, including more than $800 billion in cuts to Medicaid.
In Hudson County more than 170,000 people are covered by Medicaid.
The bill also made cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps: a federal program that helps low-income individuals and families pay for food.
In September 2022, approximately 100,000 people in Hudson County received SNAP benefits.
These cuts to health insurance health care and other basic needs programs were done at the same time the Republican Congress made giveaways to their rich friends by prioritized tax breaks for the wealthy and large businesses.
Democrats must continue to fight lower health care costs for Americans.
An extension of the credits would stabilize the ACA marketplace, help maintain consumer enrollment, and reduce financial burdens on low- and middle-income families in Hudson County and the nation.
Gerald Miller is a retired attorney living in Jersey City. He is a member of Knitty Gritty JC, a local pro-democracy group.