Krishnamoorthi, Preckwinkle, Patients, and Providers Highlight ACA Tax Credit Expiration at Bronzeville Community Health Center, Warning of Coverage Losses and Strain on Safety-Net Care
CHICAGO—Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) joined Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Health leadership, and Illinois residents today at Bronzeville Community Health Center on Chicago’s South Side to highlight the real-world consequences of Congress’s failure to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, which expired at midnight on December 31. Everyday Illinoisans already bearing the brunt of the ACA tax credit cuts joined the event to speak firsthand about how higher premiums have already affected their families and their ability to access care. During the visit, Krishnamoorthi met with patients and providers to hear directly from those navigating rising costs and coverage uncertainty, as well as from community health centers facing increased demand with fewer resources.
“Families were hit overnight with massive premium hikes because congressional Republicans refused to act,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “People who did everything right are now being priced out of care, not because they made a mistake, but because Republican leadership chose politics over patients. I’m fighting to restore these ACA tax credits because affordable health care should not disappear overnight. Congress can fix this by reversing these cuts, protecting Medicaid, and keeping families covered.”
“Local governments should not have to backfill for federal disinvestment,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. "Health care is a right, and we at Cook County will continue to deliver care with compassion and excellence. We will also continue to prove that even in the face of federal cuts, a values-driven public health system can protect lives, strengthen communities, and uphold the dignity of every person we serve."
“Allowing ACA subsidies to expire will reverse health coverage gains, destabilize safety-net systems, and negatively impact working families and communities across Illinois,” said Dr. Erik Mikaitis, CEO, Cook County Health.
More than 550,000 Illinois residents are enrolled in the ACA marketplace in 2025, including over 360,000 Cook County residents, roughly 90 percent of whom rely on premium tax credits to afford coverage. If the credits expire, average monthly ACA premiums in Cook County are projected to rise by about 95 percent, pricing many families out of insurance overnight.
The ACA coverage cliff comes as Cook County Health faces additional strain from President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which cut Medicaid by more than $1 trillion nationwide and imposed new work requirements. More than 3 million Illinois residents—one in four statewide—depend on Medicaid, which accounts for approximately 56 percent of Cook County Health’s patient revenue. The system estimates it could lose $88 million annually in Medicaid reimbursements as patients lose coverage.