Press Releases
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after new data from the Virginia health care marketplace showed that Virginians are facing huge increases in 2026 health care premiums because Republicans are blocking an extension of the enhanced tax credits that have helped keep coverage affordable:
“The numbers don’t lie. Preliminary cost estimates are showing what we’ve been warning about for months: huge spikes in premium costs for Virginians enrolled in health care through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. If Republicans continue to refuse to act on ACA tax credits, then many Americans will be forced to forgo health insurance next year. This will lead to more people turning to emergency rooms for preventive health care, further stress being placed on health care providers, and health care costs rising even more. Republicans must come to the table now to protect Americans’ health care and reopen the government.”
Preliminary cost estimates show Virginians are seeing higher health care premiums due to the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits at the end of the year.
|
Income Range Relative to the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) |
Number of Enrollees |
Average Annual Household Income |
2026 Average Monthly Gross Premium |
2026 Average Monthly Net Premium |
Average Monthly Net Premium Increase |
Average Net Premium Increase |
|
Between 100 percent and 138 percent or…
&
|
52,603 |
$24,936 |
$941 |
$72 |
+ $35 |
+ 95 percent |
|
Between 138 percent and 150 percent or…
& |
40,982 |
$30,149 |
$1,025 |
$117 |
+ $76 |
+ 185 percent |
|
Between 150 percent and 200 percent or…
& |
69,203 |
$35,536 |
$1,055 |
$192 |
+ $112 |
+ 140 percent |
|
Between 200 percent and 250 percent or…
& |
50,729 |
$49,341 |
$1,240 |
$327 |
+ $164 |
+ 101 percent |
|
Between 250 percent and 300 percent or…
& |
30,591 |
$58,600 |
$1,245 |
$464 |
+ $193 |
+ 71 percent |
|
Between 300 percent and 400 percent or…
& |
30,850 |
$73,176 |
$1,275 |
$631 |
+ $154 |
+ 32 percent |
|
Over 400 percent or…
& |
27,624 |
$144,771 |
$1,388 |
$1,388 |
+ $526 |
+ 61 percent |
The cost of ACA premiums also varies by locality. For example, an individual with an income between 150 and 200 percent of the federal poverty line (FPL), making between $23,475 and $31,300 annually, will see the following increases:
- In Albermarle County, an average monthly net premium increase of $83 and an average net premium increase of 134 percent.
- In Chesterfield County, an average monthly net premium increase of $171 and an average net premium increase of 225 percent.
- In Fairfax County, an average monthly net premium increase of $71 and an average net premium increase of 48 percent.
- In the City of Lynchburg, an average monthly net premium increase of $137 and an average net premium increase of 274 percent.
- In the City of Virginia Beach, an average monthly net premium increase of $116 and an average net premium increase of 276 percent.
- In Wise County, an average monthly net premium increase of $107 and an average net premium increase of 238 percent.
Warner and Kaine have advocated for the extension of enhanced premium tax credits under the ACA, but Republicans have refused to extend them to prevent health care costs from skyrocketing and keep millions of Americans from losing their health insurance. Democrats have asked Republicans for months to address the expiration of the ACA tax credits, and have proposed legislation to extend them and reopen the government. However, Republicans have blocked the bill’s passage. A new analysis shows that not extending the tax credits will have disastrous effects on Virginia.
With the government shut down, Warner and Kaine continue to push to reopen the government and protect Americans’ health care. Earlier this month, the senators sounded the alarm about the rise in monthly health care costs for Virginians under the ACA. The effort to prevent health care premiums from skyrocketing comes just months after President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans slashed Medicaid to offset the cost of billionaire tax cuts in the Republican budget law.
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