Sam Burgess, Esq: Granite Staters face premium shock without congressional action

For many Granite Staters who rely on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace to access health insurance, premium tax credits from the federal government represent the difference between coverage and catastrophe.

But that lifeline is about to fray.

In New Hampshire, nearly 50,000 residents benefit from premium tax credits that help them afford health coverage through the ACA Marketplace. That’s approximately 70.7% of all ACA Marketplace enrollees in the state. These are Granite Staters who don’t have access to traditional employer-sponsored insurance — like a parent who works part time while their child is in school, the waiter at your favorite restaurant, freelancers, your hair stylist, small-business owners, and older adults not yet eligible for Medicare. Premium tax credits cut average monthly premiums nearly in half — from $469 to $230 — making health insurance attainable for many.