Press Releases

The event took place on the eve of Open Enrollment, as new data shows premiums are set to soar to one of the largest increases since the ACA was enacted more than a decade ago. Without Republican action to extend the enhanced subsidies, which expire at the end of the year, working families face devastating premium hikes and possible loss of coverage. 

“Donald Trump and Republicans need to stop holding families hostage and reopen the government now,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez. “Tomorrow, open enrollment begins, and millions of working families will see their insurance premiums spike because Republicans refuse to extend the ACA tax credits that make coverage affordable. This is about dignity. It's about decency. It's about whether we believe in a country that looks out for working people, or just works for the billionaires. We're calling on Republicans to reopen the government, extend lifesaving ACA subsidies, and fund SNAP.” 

Rep. Gomez was joined by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez (D-Los Angeles), John Raffoul, President of Adventist Health White Memorial; Lucy Sanchez, a cancer survivor and patient advocate at the Cecilia De La Hoya Cancer Center; and local clinicians and ACA subsidy recipients who shared their experiences navigating care amid the shutdown.

“At Adventist Health White Memorial, our mission has always been to inspire health, wholeness, and hope, and today, that mission is at risk,” said John Raffoul, DPA, FACHE, President of Adventist Health White Memorial. “Thousands of families in East and Central Los Angeles depend on Affordable Care Act subsidies to afford their health insurance. Without congressional action, those subsidies could expire, leaving many of our patients facing skyrocketing premiums and impossible choices between healthcare and basic necessities like rent or food. We see firsthand what happens when people lose coverage — they delay care, end up in emergency rooms, and face worse health outcomes. This isn’t just a healthcare issue — it’s a community issue.”

Nationwide, roughly 24 million Americans are enrolled in ACA plans, a record high, but analysts warn that millions stand to lose coverage or face crippling premium hikes if Congress fails to act. In California’s 34th District, home to one of the largest populations of working-class and immigrant families in Los Angeles, the impact could be particularly severe.