Iowans visit Rep. Miller-Meeks office over ACA tax credits
Everyday Iowans to Rep. Miller-Meeks and Sen. Ernst – Fix Healthcare Premiums Now
Constituents visit Davenport office urging them to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits
[Davenport, IA] – Nearly two dozen Iowans in Rep. Miller-Meeks’ district visited her Davenport office, joined by a representative from Sen. Ernst’s office, during the lunch hour on Wednesday, November 5. Constituents were there to share personal experiences resulting from the government shutdown, in particular the expected doubling of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits due to expire if Congress fails to act.
“I was a kid before Medicare was available. My dad had been a machinist toolmaker who was forced to retire on disability and ended up needing major surgery. We had no health insurance, so my parents had to wipe out their savings to pay for the surgery. We lived in poverty until my mom could qualify for Social Security,” said Roland Caldwell, CCI Action member from Davenport. “If our elected officials don’t protect folks’ healthcare now, we’re putting people right back in those kinds of situations.”
Open enrollment for ACA marketplace plans began on November 1. Should Congress fail to extend the tax credits put in place through the Inflation Reduction Act, over 22 million Americans will see their health insurance premiums nearly double, or more. Approximately 24,000 Iowans in Rep. Miller-Meeks’ district get their healthcare through the ACA marketplace.
Attendees spoke with staff from Sen. Ernst and Rep. Miller-Meeks’ offices, as the Senator and Congresswoman weren’t available. “This isn’t about party,” said Susan Stoefen, CCI Action member from New Liberty. “This is about real people who are hurting. We need our elected officials to work for us – their constituents – not for billionaires and corporate interests.”
Constituents also voiced frustration over HR1, otherwise known as the “Big, Beautiful Bill”, which makes deep cuts to healthcare spending in order to finance tax cuts that largely go to the wealthy. According to the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, this legislation will result in an estimated 113,979 Iowans who will lose Medicaid or ACA coverage and become uninsured.