ORLANDO, Fla. — Thousands of Central Floridians are facing staggering health insurance premium hikes as Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits are set to expire at the end of this year, forcing many families to make what they call “impossible choices.”
The enhanced premium tax credits, designed to make ACA plans more affordable, were not included in President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, passed earlier this year. With the federal government shutdown continuing, Democrats say they won’t approve a budget that fails to restore the credits, while Republicans blame Democrats for prolonging the closure.
Florida has the highest ACA enrollment in the nation, with 4.7 million participants. Of those, about 1.4 million — nearly 30% — could lose coverage entirely without the tax credits, according to Florida Voices for Health, a nonprofit coalition.
For Orlando resident Nathan Boye, a father of three with diabetes, the loss of subsidies could be devastating. Speaking at Rep. Maxwell Frost’s Orlando office Monday, Boye said his monthly premium would soar from $28 to $733 once the credits expire.
“Unless something changes, I’m going to be forced to make impossible choices,” Boye said. “No family should have to face that. We deserve a system where staying healthy is not a luxury.”
Another Orlando resident, Eric Rollings, said his premium will more than double from $580 to over $1,200, even though his plan remains the same.
“This is an insane and hurtful increase,” Rollings said. “People battling cancer or chronic illness will lose coverage if they can’t pay. I can’t be without healthcare — one of my medications alone costs $2,600 without insurance.”
According to a House Committee on the Budget report, roughly 189,000 people in Frost’s Orange County district will see higher healthcare costs, while more than 76,000 could lose coverage completely.
Rep. Frost said the issue affects Americans across party lines. He noted that even Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene recently called for renewing the tax credits after her own children received notice of rising premiums.
“This is happening nationwide,” Frost said. “We hope more Republican lawmakers will come around. The only way we’ll vote to reopen the government is if ACA subsidies are extended and people can afford the healthcare they need.”
Trump has urged Republican senators to use the “nuclear option” — eliminating the Senate filibuster — to pass a budget without Democratic support. Frost said he welcomes that move if it means addressing the crisis.
“If they want to do it, do it,” Frost said. “But they won’t, because they want complicity. They want our votes — and they won’t get them unless we protect affordable healthcare.”
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