The shutdown has ended, but Pennsylvania’s healthcare emergency is just beginning

The longest government shutdown in the nation’s history has ended. Hurrah! It should be reason enough to celebrate. But not for everyone.

Federal workers may be returning to their jobs and a paycheck, and there’s hope SNAP benefits will resume soon to millions of Americans, but what about healthcare? What about the millions of Americans who are seeing their health insurance premiums skyrocket because President Donald Trump wants to end Obamacare.

What about the thousands of people who may not be able to afford the premiums and will lose healthcare altogether?

Matthew Espenshade, one of our readers, wrote PennLive warning of the tragedy many Pennsylvanians are facing if the Affordable Care Act is not extended. He’s president of the Pennsylvania Grange, an advocacy organization looking