SAN FRANCISCO -- This year's open enrollment for Covered California comes at a pivotal time.

If Congress does not extend the tax credits as part of the government shutdown deal, hundreds of thousands of Californians who have the state's health insurance could see a 97% increase in monthly premiums.

"We do estimate as many as 400,000 of our current enrollees could be priced out of the coverage they have today," said Jessica Altman, Covered California Executive Director.

On her first press conference since announcing her congressional retirement, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi expressed concern over Covered California enrollees facing massive premium hikes due to federal subsidies not being renewed.

"It is a remarkable thing that they would take half a trillion out of Medicare, mill

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