Blumenthal, Larson calling for permanent Affordable Care Act subsidies

CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — Connecticut leaders are calling for increased protections for Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance.

On Monday, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Rep. John Larson (D-1st District) held a press conference saying that Congress should make ACA subsidies permanent. The subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year.

Blumenthal and Larson say this will cause insurance costs to spike for 139,000 people in Connecticut, but Republicans argue that the issue can be dealt with later this year as Congress is currently working to avoid a government shutdown.

“We can’t wait,” Blumenthal said. “Because people are going to begin making decisions about their healthcare insurance on Nov. 1. And a continuing resolution — or temporary funding measure — that goes until Nov. 21 will leave them totally uncertain for the rest of the year.”

Last week, the Senate rejected a plan by Democrats that would extend the ACA subsidies and reverse Medicaid cuts made by the GOP.