Bringing Texas Voices to Washington
This week, I am traveling to Washington, D.C. to make sure Texas consumers have a strong voice in the national health care debate. As executive director of Texans for Affordable Healthcare, my job is to represent the interests of hardworking families, small businesses, and individuals across our state who struggle every day with the rising cost of health care.
I’ll be there for two important reasons:
1. Putting Patients First with Price Transparency
I’ve been invited to participate in a U.S. Senate briefing on the bipartisan Patients Deserve Price Tags Act, sponsored by Senators John Hickenlooper and Roger Marshall. This legislation would make health care prices clearer and more accessible for patients, so you know what you’ll pay before you get care.Whether it’s a hospital stay, lab test, or imaging scan, Texans deserve the ability to compare prices just like we do with groceries or car repairs. Hidden fees and surprise bills are a burden families can’t afford, and this bill takes important steps to fix that.
2. Fighting to Keep Health Insurance Affordable
While in Washington, I’ll also be meeting with members of our federal delegation and their staff about the urgent need to renew the enhanced premium tax credits.
These tax credits lower the monthly cost of private health insurance for the 3.35 million Texans who buy coverage through the federal exchange. Without these credits, premiums would simply be out of reach, especially for the small business owners, gig workers, ranchers, and the self-employed who are most likely to purchase their health insurance through healthcare.gov.
Here’s what’s at stake if these tax credits expire at the end of 2025:
Families will face shocking increases:
A family of four earning $64,000 could see a $9,400 hike in annual premiums.
A 60-year-old couple could pay $17,600 more per year.
More than 1 million Texans could lose coverage overnight, representing over a quarter of all coverage losses nationwide.
Want to help get these credits renewed? Send your federal lawmakers a message of support here.
Protecting Texans from Higher Costs
Whether it’s making sure patients can see the true price of their care upfront or ensuring families don’t lose access to affordable insurance, both of these issues come down to one thing: protecting Texans from skyrocketing healthcare costs.
Texans deserve a fair system that’s transparent, competitive, and affordable. That’s why I’m going to Washington—to stand up for Texas consumers, push for stronger price transparency, and fight to preserve the tax credits that keep health coverage within reach for millions of families.
I look forward to reporting back after my trip and continuing the fightfor a healthier, fairer future for all Texans!
Sincerely,
Annie Spilman
Executive Director
Texans for Affordable Healthcare