WATCH: Padilla urges Republicans to pass Democratic proposal to protect Americans’ health care amid skyrocketing insurance premiums and rising costs

September 26, 2025 - LOS ANGELES, CA — On Thursday, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was joined by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez (D-Los Angeles), Covered California, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, and local health care providers in Los Angeles to call on Congressional Republicans to work with Democrats to protect health care coverage for nearly 1.7 million California residents and avoid a Republican-caused government shutdown.

Californians and Americans across the country are facing the largest health insurance premium increases in 15 years and rising costs as a result of President Trump’s chaotic tariffs and catastrophic economic agenda, but Republicans are refusing to extend essential Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits before they expire at the end of the year. These credits helped a record 24 million Americans enroll in Affordable Care Act exchanges this year.

Extending these premium tax credits by the September 30 government funding deadline is critical before open enrollment to purchase health insurance begins on November 1, but Republicans have made clear that they would rather shut the government down with their partisan, status-quo bill and conduct mass federal layoffs than passing Democrats’ proposal to actually address Americans’ health care needs. 

“Trump and Republicans in Congress would rather shut down the government than work with Democrats to make health care more affordable as millions of Americans struggle to pay the bills,” said Senator Padilla. “Republicans are refusing to extend lifesaving tax credits that millions of Americans rely on, jacking up premiums for 1.7 million Californians just trying to get by. If Republicans want to actually govern instead of shutting the government down, they need to earn Democrats’ votes by reversing their dangerous attacks on health care and supporting our plan to make these premium tax credits permanent.”

“Families in my district are already stretched thin by the rising cost of rent, food, and child care — they cannot afford to also lose their health care,” said Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez (D-Los Angeles). “If Republicans refuse to extend these Affordable Care Act tax credits, millions of Californians will see their premiums skyrocket or lose coverage altogether. Congressional Republicans must work with Democrats to protect coverage for the 1.7 million Californians who rely on it and prevent a Republican-caused shutdown, instead of holding our health care hostage to push their billionaire-first agenda.”

“The enhanced premium tax credits have been a critical lifeline for millions of Americans to get access to affordable, quality health insurance,” said Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman. “That includes nearly 2 million Californians currently enrolled through Covered California, as we have seen a 23 percent jump in enrollment across all segments and ethnic groups. According to a Congressional Budget Office estimate, not extending the enhanced premium tax credits would make coverage unattainable again for hundreds of thousands of Californians and millions of Americans. But there is still time for Congress to act and extend the premium tax credits for 2026 and beyond.”

Thanks to Trump and Republicans’ billionaire-first budget bill and rejection of Democrats’ ACA tax credit extension proposals, 15 million Americans will be kicked off their health insurance and premiums will increase by an average of 75% for more than 20 million Americans, an average $700 increase per family. On its own, passing an extension of these vital ACA tax credits would prevent more than 4 million Americans on the ACA market from losing their health insurance. If these credits aren’t extended, Californians making $62,000 or less could be forced to pay around $100 or $200 a month more in premiums.

Covered California is a free service that connects Californians with brand-name health, dental, and vision insurance, providing financial assistance to help residents pay for their health plan under the Affordable Care Act. 1.8 million Californians have signed up for a health plan through Covered California.

Senator Padilla has consistently fought against Trump and Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill that makes reckless cuts to health care in order to hand out tax cuts to billionaires. In July, Padilla blasted Senate Republicans’ passage of the bill that will kick 15 million Americans off their health care, shutter rural hospital across the country, gut critical programs, and explode the debt by over $3.5 trillion.

Watch Senator Padilla’s opening remarks here and his closing remarks here.

Source: Senator Alex Padilla