Keeping Small Businesses and Cancer Patients Safe: A Call for Action
Small businesses are the lifeblood of many communities. They create jobs, support local economies, and provide essential services. But what happens when the health of these businesses and their owners is at risk?
A Critical Juncture for Pennsylvania
That's the question on the minds of many in Pennsylvania as enhanced premium tax credits for Marketplace plans are set to expire at the end of 2025.
The Human Cost
For cancer patients, access to quality health insurance can mean the difference between life and death. This is something that one small business owner knows all too well. After being diagnosed with lung cancer, they were able to receive the critical care they needed thanks to coverage through Pennie.
Without this insurance, the cost of their care would have been astronomical, totaling around $700,000.
The Broader Impact
But it's not just about the cost of care. These tax credits also help small business owners keep their doors open, support their employees, and serve their communities.
- Nearly half of Marketplace enrollees are small business owners, employees of small businesses, or self-employed individuals.
- Allowing these tax credits to lapse would put the health of these community pillars at risk.
A Call to Action
That's why there's a growing call for Sen. McCormick to work with his colleagues to extend these enhanced premium tax credits. It's a critical step in protecting the health of cancer patients and small business owners alike.
The Bigger Picture
But it's not just about the health of individuals. It's about the health of our communities as a whole.
What Can Be Done?
Advocacy is key. By raising awareness and urging lawmakers to take action, we can help ensure that small businesses and cancer patients continue to have access to the affordable health care they need.
It's a complex issue, but one that deserves our attention and action.
