MANCHESTER, N.H. – On Friday, Nov. 14, U.S. Representative Chris Pappas (D-NH-01) held an informal roundtable meeting with several New Hampshire women about facing various financial challenges if nothing is done to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits over the next few weeks.
The meeting follows a recent 60-40 vote in the U.S. Senate to reopen the U.S. government, which was opposed by most Senate Democrats due to a lack of commitment by Republicans regarding extension of the tax credits. New Hampshire’s Democratic Senators, Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, were among the minority of their party, stating that they and other Senators had come to an agreement with Republicans that a vote on extending the tax credits would be taken if the government was reopened. Pappas voted against the Senate agreement when it came to the House, reiterating his frustration with the lack of a guarantee on the tax credits before moving forward. The House voted 222-209 to approve the measure.
Each of the women have received notifications that their health insurance costs may go up next year and they each feared what might happen if nothing is done soon in Washington.
Barrington resident Jenny Belmont Earl has two disabled children, stating that recent hikes on the price of day-to-day items has forced her family to cut back on Christmas expenses, adding that she now expects her health insurance costs to triple as well.
Earl said that prior to passage of the Affordable Care Act, she wasn’t able to afford a home in New Hampshire because she and her spouse did not have insurance through their jobs. Without help from the Affordable Care Act benefits, that choice may return if a job that offers insurance benefits cannot be found near Barrington.
“I’ve told my parents that the ACA makes it so you can have grandchildren and afford it, that we can have a family,” she said. “People have told me to get a job with better healthcare, (but) why should I have to move for a higher paying job? There’s also no guarantee that my children would get the same level of integration in their classes (that they have Barrington)”
Nicole Sheaff from Exeter also has several disabled children and her husband has a history of relatives dying from diabetes-related health complications.
Given the struggles of caring for their children and making ends meet, she believes she may have to apply for forms of financial assistance, a stressful situation she is familiar with.
“There were times that we went without insurance (in the past) and just prayed that people didn’t get hurt,” said Sheaff.
Amanda Carter of Peterborough said she is expecting her premiums to climb 277% in 2026, with a significant procedure that cannot be done before January set to cost $7,000.
She said that she may have to choose between that procedure and food for her family, although delaying the procedure could harm the people she helps as a kinship navigator at the River Center, a role where she often helps people navigate the complicated path taken by disadvantaged families to receive government assistance.
“If I don’t manage my health, not only does it affect me and my family, but the 50 families that I help,” she said.
The three women agreed that assistance for people such as themselves through the support of the Affordable Care Act could facilitate preventative care for Americans, lowering the possibility of more costly emergency procedures, an assertion Pappas agreed with.
He also said that while he is not among the members of Congress that will have a direct role in negotiations on the tax credits, that U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) and U.S. President Donald Trump will have to be pushed into moving forward accepting a solution if negotiations do occur. Pappas also feels confident that there are enough Republicans in the House and Senate that can come together with Democrats to find a compromise if they are allowed to do so by their party’s leadership.
“I think for the long-term stability of our system of governance that (Congressional) committees do their work and develop something that’s workable and brought to the floor for a vote,” he said. “Ultimately, I hope we can get through this in a way where people can feel good about what’s been developed.”
Pappas added that action on the Affordable Care Act tax extensions could not wait until the next vote on the continuing resolution keeping the government open comes on Jan. 30, as that would come after the 2026 Affordable Care Act plan enrollment period.
“I think (the Affordable Care Act) has to be dealt with this year. We can’t go home for the holidays without a resolution on that,” said Pappas. “This can’t get kicked until January because that will be far too late for many families.”