Hey Reader,
You’ve probably heard the government is shut down again, and it's now tied for the second-longest in history.
The main disagreement? Whether to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits: the financial help that allows millions of Americans to buy private health insurance if their job doesn’t provide it. Think small businesses and independent contractors.
We talk a lot about food and lifestyle here, but even with the cleanest diet, you still need traditional care for events like a car accident and standard cancer screenings. When accidents and tragic diagnosis strike, access to conventional, acute medical care is essential. We can’t be healthy without it.
Most Americans agree on the need for affordable access to health care. So what's causing the gridlock in congress?
⚖️ What’s Happening
- Democrats want to keep the ACA tax credits in place. They say that if those credits expire, premiums could double and millions might lose coverage, especially small-business owners, contractors, and families who buy insurance on their own. These cuts are expected to directly impact 24 million Americans.
- Republicans are holding off on extending them, partly out of concern that the program might grow or be misused. But the ACA already bars undocumented immigrants from receiving these benefits, and multiple independent audits have found no significant fraud. So far, the party has not been engaging in negotiations with the Democrats.
Independent policy groups on both sides of the aisle estimate that allowing the credits to expire would raise insurance premium costs for nearly everyone.
💬 A Common-Sense Question
If we want to make America healthier and stronger, shouldn’t we help families afford preventive and emergency care before illness turns into crisis?
When people can’t afford insurance, they often wait until problems become emergencies. Hospitals still treat them, but the unpaid bills drive up costs for everyone else. Supporting affordable coverage helps lower total costs, keep families solvent, and reduce strain on hospitals.
🌱 Health, Freedom, and Responsibility
Extending the ACA tax credits isn’t about more government control or handouts; it’s about giving people freedom to choose private plans they can actually afford. A side benefit of enabling preventative maintenance is reducing downstream costs, because preventative care, whether conventional or lifestyle, reduces issues and associated costs downstream.
It lets small-business owners stay independent without losing protection. It helps families budget for health, not end up in bankruptcy due to unforeseen medical costs.
That’s a practical, American kind of solution: one that supports personal responsibility while keeping health care within reach.
💪 What You Can Do
- Learn the facts. Check the nonpartisan links below to see how the ACA credits work and who benefits.
- Reach out. Tell your representatives that you support policies that keep health care affordable and accessible for working families.
Healthy communities are built on informed people who look past rhetoric and stand for solutions that work. If this resonates, share it with someone who might want to learn more.
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22 million to expect "sharp" increase
in health insurance premiums starting in 2026.
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Changing rates and lost coverage
Explore the impact if the support for ACA programs lapses.
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Calculate your own premiums
KFF, a health policy research organization, put together its own calculator for you to estimate your coverage increase from the tax plan changes in the "Big Beautiful Bill."
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Congressional Budget Office
Predicts that the removal of ACA tax credits will increase the number of uninsured and increase premiums for people with health insurance.
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Now, for the tasty treats
Recipe Spotlight
Summer Sorrel Soup
This week, I'm highlighting a recipe I tried from another blog that I think you'll love. We're growing fresh sorrel in our garden this year, which is perfect for this soup. You can sub lemon and spinach instead if you can't find sorrel. I also subbed beef broth, added chopped sirloin, and skipped the eggs.
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Next time you have a question on the validaity of a nutrition claim, email me about it or try looking it up here.
One of the benefits of publicly funded research, aside from removing industry bias, is that you the tax payer have the right to the results!
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