The Importance of Premium Tax Credits: Affording Health Insurance Coast to Coast

Currently, nearly 20 million people across the United States get help paying for their health coverage through premium tax credits (also known as advance premium tax credits, or APTCs), which they can use to purchase a plan through the health insurance marketplaces. These tax credits are a lifeline for people who would otherwise not be able to afford their health coverage or access health care.

In light of the ongoing U.S. health care affordability crisis, and particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress has acted to bolster the amount of assistance available to people in recent years, increasing the premium tax credit amounts under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and extending those enhancements under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). These actions have saved individuals and families money in insurance premiums, but if Congress does not act, this assistance will be cut, and millions of people will face losing their health insurance, delaying or skipping needed health care, or taking on medical debt they cannot afford.

APTCs are having a profound impact in many areas of the country, with metrics differing state-by-state. To cover this more fully, state-specific fact sheets are being created to include breakdowns by area and personal stories of individuals and families benefiting from APTCs. State fact sheets will be added to this webpage on a rolling basis, though not all 50 states will be covered. If you are a state advocate who does not see your state represented and would like to discuss a fact sheet, please contact partnerships@familiesusa.org and the appropriate parties will reach out.

Click the links below to download the national fact sheet and/or state fact sheets.

For Spanish versions click here.

You can find more advocacy resources on the importance of APTCs here.