The ACA’s Role in the Government Shutdown

Written By Brooklynn White

Thanks to Executive Committee member Brooklynn White for this write-up. This is an editorial piece and does not reflect the views or opinions of the Sumner County Democratic Party.

By now you may have heard something about the Affordable Care Act tax credit or its ties to the government shutdown. But what does that mean anyway, and how will it impact Sumner County residents? 

ACA Tax Credit Explained

The Affordable Care Act tax credit expires at the end of this year if it is not renewed by Congress. The Affordable Care Act tax credit was expanded in 2021 to help individuals using the open marketplace to have more affordable insurance premiums. Anyone who does not have insurance through their employer or who is not receiving coverage through Medicare or Medicaid can use the healthcare marketplace to find insurance either during open enrollment periods or anytime outside open enrollment if they meet a specific set of circumstances- such as changes in marital status, having a baby or taking on a minor dependent through adoption or foster care, or losing coverage due to the death of the carrier of their insurance.

Many who are self-employed, have lost their healthcare coverage due to life circumstances or job changes, or those who have disabilities that limit their full-time status that are not currently receiving government benefits rely on the open marketplace and the Affordable Care Act expanded tax credits to keep their healthcare premiums low, albeit still unrealistically expensive for many.

Additionally, many small business owners rely on the ACA tax credits and the open marketplace to ensure their employees receive access to health insurance. Providing health insurance is a major expense for new and smaller businesses and people cannot afford to work for companies that do not provide insurance if they cannot get it themselves.

How Many People Get Insurance Through the ACA?

According to NPR, “This year enrollment hit a record 24 million.” Insurance premiums are expected to more than double for most ACA enrollees.

Tennessee is on the list of states to be most impacted by the expiring of the ACA expanded tax credit. The Tennessean writes, “The tax credits, part of the Affordable Care Act, have helped nearly 610,000 Tennesseans afford health insurance premiums this year.”

What’s the Connection with the Government Shutdown?

So what does any of this have to do with the government shutdown? In an effort to refuse to allow the Republican supermajority to strip any more Americans of their healthcare access, the Democrats are refusing to pass a budget bill to reopen the government if renewing the ACA tax credit is not a part of it. There are conflicting opinions about when the credit actually expires, but it looks like we may be in this for the long hall to get this renewed before the end of the year. 

What Can We Do About It?

So what can we do about it here in Sumner County? Firstly, contact your representatives. The Affordable Care Act is popular even among Republican voters and there is a real chance to have the upper hand here.

Remind your representatives that Tennesseans come before their personal agendas and that Tennesseans will be affected by cuts to healthcare. You can also remind them that federal workers are working for free, and refusing to negotiate a deal that includes renewing the ACA will only continue to cost American families their livelihoods.

Secondly, you can stay engaged locally. We have elections coming up next year and local elections matter. We need people that will fight for Sumner County, advocate for social programs that will fill the gaps, and who will help us trickle up the vote.

Primaries will take place next year, but in the meantime, we have a Congressional District 7 Special Election on December 2nd. Sumner County may not be in District 7, but it is going to be all hands on deck to send Aftyn Behn– the grassroots organizer who fights for rural hospitals and access to healthcare– to congress. Keep an eye out for opportunities to get involved with SCDP with initiatives such as phone banking to flip a Tennessee seat to blue and shift the balance in congress!

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Brooklynn White
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