265K Tennesseans' health insurance at risk as shutdown hits

With critical health insurance tax credits set to expire in December, Nashville patient advocates and Democratic lawmakers warn that a federal government shutdown could stall congressional efforts to renew the aid, potentially driving up costs and jeopardizing coverage for up to 245,000 Tennesseans and millions of Americans.

The tax credits, part of the Affordable Care Act, have helped nearly 610,000 Tennesseans afford health insurance premiums this year. They’re set to expire in December, and while Congress could act to extend them, a prolonged government shutdown threatens to delay or derail that effort, leaving millions of Americans at risk of losing coverage.