According to a new report from the office of Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Georgians are delaying necessary medical care and paying thousands more for health insurance after the expiration of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits.
Why have the ACA Tax Credits expired? Congress failed to extend ACA tax credits by leaving out extensions from bills like the One Big, Beautiful Bill and subsequent Continuing Resolutions.
Congress could also have enacted separate legislation entirely focused on the credits themselves, but failed to do so before the sunset deadline of December 31, 2025.
What lawmakers are saying:
- Sen. Jon Ossoff: “The failure of Republicans to extend ACA tax credits has inexplicably hurt Georgia families, leading to hundreds of thousands going without health care, and more seeing huge increases in their premiums. I will continue working to restore these tax credits and to lower health care costs for Georgia families.”
- Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) in January 2026: “The first numbers are in. Over 1 million fewer people have signed up for insurance on the ACA than at this time last year. This is Trump's premium hikes at work. In the wealthiest nation on earth, millions are being forced to go without health care. It's a moral tragedy.”
Further Context: According to the report, Georgia patients on exchange plans are facing increased monthly premiums, deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, and medication costs,
Increased costs are forcing them to cut back on other items, and they have had to pay higher costs for less coverage. In some cases, Georgians have lost their insurance altogether.
The report highlights Alpharetta resident Deborah Tolson as an example. Her monthly health insurance premium in 2025 was $63 for three people. As of January 2026, that same plan’s monthly premium reportedly increased to $1200, a 1,804% increase.
Georgia patients also reported that narrowing coverage and benefits on exchange plans has forced them to forgo medically necessary health care or has delayed their urgent tests, appointments, and treatments.
The report highlights Atlanta resident Nicole Kelly as an example. Her monthly premium under her exchange plan reportedly rose from $254 to $1,571 in January 2026, a 518.5% increase.
