Governor Maura Healey and Health Connector officials warned that enhanced premium tax credits set to expire at year end could cause large increases in health insurance premiums for hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents and urged Congress to extend the credits.

"As you hear today, we have people in Massachusetts set to see their health care premiums go up by as much as $25,000 in a single year," Healey said, tying the spike to the failure of federal lawmakers to extend enhanced premium tax credits. She said the Health Connector serves more than 400,000 people and that about 330,000 residents could be affected by the loss of the credits.

Audrey Gasteyer, executive director of the Massachusetts Health Connector, described intense member concern in the first week of open enrollment and detailed the Connector’s preparedness to help if federal action follows. "Our members have been getting notices about their eligibility and premiums for 2026, almost all of which include increases fueled by the inaction around extending enhanced premium tax credits," Gasteyer said. She emphasized the Connector’s outreach since August, the availability of navigators in 50 locations and a contingency playbook should Congress restore credits.

Front-line experience: Tina Allu, executive director of the Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee and a Connector navigator organization, recounted callers who were "panicking" and clients who must switch to lower-cost plans that exclude long-term doctors. She gave examples including a family in ConnectorCare earning $60,000 that faces an approximately $300 monthly premium increase, and a woman with a chronic condition who was forced to change networks.

Resources and next steps: Officials encouraged residents to update accounts and shop plans, to call the Health Connector customer service line or visit mahealthconnector.org/updates for the latest information. The Connector said it is ready to help members rapidly if Congress acts, but state officials reiterated that no state program can fully replace federal premium tax credits.

Context and request to Congress: State officials urged the president and Congress to vote to extend the enhanced premium tax credits for at least one year to prevent what they described as budget-busting increases during open enrollment; Healey said immediate federal action is needed to avoid mass premium spikes in January.