Ellen Allen: A Health Care Advocate Navigating Coverage Through the ACA

Ellen Allen, a resident of Pinch, West Virginia, is the Executive Director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, a nonprofit advocating for accessible and affordable health care across the state. She is also a mother to an adult with disabilities. Ellen’s organization is too small to offer a health insurance plan, so she turned to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to meet her own health care needs.

Two years ago, Ellen enrolled in a health insurance plan through the ACA marketplace, and a record number of over 65,000 other West Virginians enrolled alongside her this year. She currently receives $1,400 per month in Enhanced Premium Tax Credits. While she still pays part of her premium, the tax credit goes directly to the insurance company and allows her to set aside funds for other costs.

“It’s the enhanced premium tax credits that make the Affordable Care Act truly affordable,” Ellen said. “That saves me $1,400 a month that I can set aside for out-of-pocket costs and co-pays. That’s true peace of mind.”

However, these enhanced tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year. Without them, Ellen’s health insurance costs could skyrocket, along with more than 20 million other Americans. Right now, the average premium cost for marketplace health insurance plans is $179 with the tax credits, but without the credits, the average cost balloons to $636.

“I have calculated I have to set aside between $35,000 and $40,000 next year just to cover my health care costs,” Ellen said. It’s a burden she knows many West Virginians simply cannot afford. If people like Ellen can’t pay those extra costs, they will be forced to delay or skip crucial health care services.

While Ellen considers herself “one of the lucky ones” that may be able to hold onto her insurance, she stresses that over 51,000 West Virginians could lose access to affordable care if these credits expire.