Local Hispanic business and community leaders gathered in Phoenix on Thursday to urge Arizona's congressional delegation to reopen the government and extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits before open enrollment begins on November 1st.
Over 300,000 working Arizonans are receiving shocking news this week that their health insurance premiums could jump more than 60% in 2026 if Congress doesn't act fast.
Speakers shared stories showing how rising premiums would devastate working families and small businesses. For Hispanic families, the stakes are exceptionally high.
"We have a client with a baby that has a congenital disease, and the family is very, very concerned that they're not gonna receive a tax credit this year," said Patricia Romero-Hamrick, a licensed health insurance agent with International Insurance-Seguros, Inc. "It's going to be very, very difficult to either pay everyday utilities or to pay the health insurance."
Tax Credits at Risk
The tax credits currently help nearly 380,000 Arizonans afford health coverage. Hispanic Americans make up almost one in three marketplace enrollees nationwide, about 4.8 million people. Due to these credits, the uninsured rate among Hispanic families has dropped by nearly half since 2020.
Without Congressional action, that progress could vanish. Some families could see premium increases of over $13,000 per year. A family of four earning $64,000 annually would face a nearly $2,600 increase, a 500% jump, the speakers explained.
The impact would hit hardest among Hispanic business owners and workers in construction, restaurants, and landscaping, industries they highlighted as the backbone of Arizona's economy. Small business owners who barely afford their own coverage would be forced to cut employee benefits.
Denise Ceballos Viner, president of Padres y Niños Arizona, emphasized the human cost: "When families lose coverage, kids miss checkups, parents delay care, and health challenges turn into financial ones too. That means missed work days and unexpected ER bills."
Urgent Appeal
These leaders stressed this isn't partisan but about serving people across political lines. Nearly 80% of marketplace enrollees, including those in Arizona, would be affected
"Enough with the standoff in Washington. Nothing moves forward until Congress ends the shutdown, reopens the government, and the clock is ticking…What matters most is delivering relief to 24 million Americans before time runs out," Viner urged lawmakers.
With days remaining before open enrollment, advocates made clear they're fighting for neighbors, families, and working people who keep Arizona running.
