Covered California warns of rising costs if Congress fails to act

Covered California’s open enrollment is underway, but the future of healthcare costs remains uncertain as Congress stalls on extending federal premium tax credits. Those credits, expanded during the pandemic under the Affordable Care Act, are set to expire at the end of the year. Without them, about 400,000 Californians could face higher insurance premiums. Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman says the state is allocating $190 million to help cushion the impact for low-income enrollees, but the program relies on $2.5 billion in federal funds annually. Enrollees like Clyde Sharikova-Sudarma already face premiums doubling from $150 to nearly $300 a month, leaving many to choose between coverage and other essentials. Open enrollment ends January 31, with full-year coverage req