CHICAGO (WLS) — Affordable Care Act open enrollment begins Saturday for residents of Illinois and most other states. The increase in insurance premiums is expected to be the largest since the ACA, known as ObamaCare, was enacted more than 10 years ago.
For millions of people without health insurance, hospital visits may be unaffordable. Half a million Illinoisans, including small business owner Jessica Kazaniwskyj and her husband, rely on health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Their current premium is $2,000 per month.
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“We received a letter saying $4,000 would be the new premium,” Kazaniwskyj said. “So it’s double, yes, double. It’s not sustainable. It’s not sustainable for anyone.”
Premiums are doubling and tripling due to inflation and the Trump administration’s repeal of ACA subsidies and tax credits.
The average monthly increase for Cook County households is $215, according to Illinois statistics compiled by Sen. Dick Durbin’s office. This appears to hit rural counties harder at $2,580 per year. Effingham County insurance premiums can rise to an average of $844 per month, or $10,128 per year.
“We believe we need to do something about this and do it now. This is an emergency for many families,” Durbin said.
Over the past month, the ACA has been at the center of a government shutdown. Democrats are willing to open the government if Republicans agree to negotiate an extension of ACA subsidies. Republicans say they will open the government first and negotiate later.
“All the Democrats have to do is say, ‘Let’s go.’ I mean they don’t have to do anything,” President Donald Trump said.
But Durbin said Democrats don’t trust Republicans to keep their promises. Durbin said the two parties are talking and he’s hopeful something can be broken down soon, especially now that Americans are starting to learn about rising insurance premiums.
“Republicans who are outspoken privately on this issue say this is a confusing problem that we need to solve, and I agree with them,” Durbin said.
Kazaniwskyj says if you don’t take action, you may have to stop your insurance.
“This is a human issue. This is not a partisan issue. This is not a political issue. You are ruining people’s lives, you are ruining people’s health,” Kazaniwskyj said.
If the subsidies aren’t extended, Durbin and other health experts say 30 to 40 percent of people enrolled in the ACA will likely drop their health insurance because they can no longer afford it.
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