Around 70,000 West Virginians could lose health coverage after the U.S. Senate rejected legislation that would have extended Affordable Care Act tax credits for nearly 22 million Americans. Without action, ACA premiums are expected to rise sharply January first.
Advocates say some monthly costs could jump from a few hundred dollars to well over two thousand, forcing families to dip into savings or drop coverage altogether. Estimates suggest at least 20,000 West Virginians may forgo insurance due to higher costs.
Both Democratic and Republican proposals failed in the Senate. State lawmakers say relief for ACA subsidies would ultimately need to come from Congress.