Committee urges Congress to extend expanded premium tax credits as thousands could lose assistance

HARRISBURG — The House Health Committee reported House Resolution 382 urging Congress to extend expanded premium tax credits that are scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, 2025, a change supporters said would sharply increase premiums for many Pennsylvanians.

Representative Bellman, the prime sponsor, warned the committee that if Congress does not act "hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians who buy health insurance through Penny will face massive premium increases or lose financial assistance entirely." He said nearly 500,000 Pennsylvanians enrolled during open enrollment for 2025 — the highest number in Penny's history — and that roughly four out of five enrollees receive financial assistance.

Bellman cited state estimates that "up to 150,000 Pennsylvanians could lose coverage entirely" and that the total loss in premium tax credits in Pennsylvania could exceed $1,250,000,000 annually if the expanded credits expire. He described the issue as urgent and urged committee support for the resolution.

Chair Rapp told the committee he would vote no on the resolution because negotiations are ongoing in Congress and he did not want to send a letter while federal deliberations continue. Other members argued the resolution is timely given reports that the federal process had stalled and the potential for major premium increases.

The clerk conducted a roll call; the transcript records mixed yes/no votes and a final announcement that the resolution "passes" and was reported affirmatively from committee. The transcript does not provide a clear, consistent numeric tally for the final roll call within the segment text.

The resolution will be transmitted to Congress as a committee position urging extension of the credits; no enforcement mechanism is included in this symbolic action.