Washington lawmakers urge Congress to extend tax credit aimed at cutting health insurance costs

BELLEVUE, Wash. — Gov. Bob Ferguson and Democratic Congressional leaders urged Congress to prevent tax credits, aimed making health care more affordable, from expiring at the end of the year.

At a press conference Friday, Ferguson, Washington Reps. Suzan DelBene and Kim Schrier and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called on Congress to extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits.

The program, which was approved as part of the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021, makes private health insurance plans through Washington state’s Health Benefit Exchange more affordable. It is set to expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress extends it. If the subsidy expires, the Congressional Budget Office estimates enrollees would drop, reducing federal budget costs.

However, Washington leaders called it “mo