Affordable Care Act

Texas’ entire House GOP delegation voted this week for a health care package that lets the tax credits lapse. They will be forced to vote on a three-year extension of the subsidies in January.

Shanice Jordan is one of the four million Texans enrolled in an Affordable Care Act health plan. But subsidies that make plans through the federal health insurance marketplace more affordable are set to expire at the end of the year — meaning Jordan and other Texans will premiums that are more than double what they currently pay.

The federal health insurance marketplace open enrollment deadline for plans that start on Jan. 1 is less than a week away. There's still a lot of uncertainty surrounding coverage, but advocates say everyone with an Affordable Care Act should verify their information and select a plan ahead of Monday’s deadline.

Austin residents shopping the Affordable Care Act marketplace are making difficult decisions about whether the plans that fit their budget can meet their medical needs.

Enrollment in Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance plans begins Nov. 1. But questions about whether Congress will extend tax credits that bring down the cost of plans for many Americans linger.

Last year, North Texas hospitals provided more than $7 billion in uncompensated care, like charity care or bad medical debt. One health leaders said if federal lawmakers don't extend a subsidy that makes federal health insurance marketplace coverage more affordable, hospitals statewide could be responsible for more than $1 billion in additional uncompensated care — which could lead to a loss of services or closures.

Open enrollment for the federal health insurance marketplace begins next month, even as federal lawmakers remain at a standstill over a push to extend the enhanced premium tax credits. Advocates warn uncertainty and confusion around policy changes could affect millions of Texans who depend on the Marketplace for coverage.

As Texas develops its application for federal Rural Health Transformation Program funding, rural hospital leaders say stabilizing their facilities should be a top priority. "Without it, all the planning in the world will not matter because there will be no hospital left to transform," one said.

With the federal government shutdown entering its second week, some health leaders in North Texas are worried a prolonged shutdown could negatively effect their patients and services.

This year, nearly 4 million Texans received an enhanced premium tax credit to make their ACA health plans more affordable. North Texas health and community leaders want people to reach out to their lawmakers about extending the credit.

Texas saw the largest increase in the rate of uninsured children in the country between 2022 and 2024. Experts warn it will likely get worse.

Having never expanded Medicaid, Texas avoided most of the looming federal cuts other states will face. But the Affordable Care Act is a different story.