Make health insurance tax credits permanent

A looming deadline could exacerbate the next public health crisis: the potential loss of income tax credits that help millions of Americans afford health care.

We all gained a newfound appreciation for access to quality, timely medical attention during the last two years of the public health crisis, but we cannot overlook the ongoing health care challenges that many residents still face — the ability to afford insurance, which is vital to accessing quality health care.

Ensuring more Michiganders have health coverage starts with keeping insurance costs down for lower-income Americans. That’s why the health care income tax credits expanded by the American Rescue Plan Act or ARPA last year were so important. This helped 67,000 Michigan residents gain access to health insurance.

Thanks in part to this expansion, more than 300,000 Michiganders are now signed up for marketplace health coverage for 2022. Since last year, we’ve made significant positive progress in connecting more families in communities across the state with the coverage they need.

Just like our leaders in Congress, our organizations are committed to serving Michiganders and making our communities stronger and safer for everyone.

This Letter to the Editor appeared in Crain’s Detroit Business and was written by MAHP Executive Director Dominick Pallone alongside Laura Appel, executive vice president of government relations and public policy of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, Julie L. Novak, CEO of the Michigan State Medical Society, and Philip Bergquist, CEO of the Michigan Primary Care Association. Read the rest here. 

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