Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) joined Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Health leadership, and Illinois residents on January 5 at the Bronzeville Community Health Center on Chicago’s South Side to underscore the real-world impact of Congress’s failure to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, which expired at midnight on December 31, 2025.

According to a statement from Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s office, Illinois residents already affected by the expiration of the ACA tax credits participated in the event to share firsthand accounts of how “higher premiums have already affected their families and their ability to access care.” During the visit, Krishnamoorthi met with patients and health care providers to hear directly about rising costs, coverage uncertainty, and the growing pressure on community health centers as demand increases amid constrained resources.

“Families were hit overnight with massive premium hikes because congressional Republicans refused to act,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “People who did everything right are now being priced out of care, not because they made a mistake, but because Republican leadership chose politics over patients. I’m fighting to restore these ACA tax credits because affordable health care should not disappear overnight. Congress can fix this by reversing these cuts, protecting Medicaid, and keeping families covered.”

“Local governments should not have to backfill for federal disinvestment,” said Cook County Board President Preckwinkle. “Health care is a right, and we at Cook County will continue to deliver care with compassion and excellence. We will also continue to prove that even in the face of federal cuts, a values-driven public health system can protect lives, strengthen communities, and uphold the dignity of every person we serve.”

“Allowing ACA subsidies to expire will reverse health coverage gains, destabilize safety-net systems, and negatively impact working families and communities across Illinois,” said Dr. Erik Mikaitis, CEO of Cook County Health.

The statement noted that more than 550,000 Illinois residents are enrolled in the ACA marketplace in 2025, including over 360,000 residents in Cook County. Roughly 90 percent of those enrollees rely on premium tax credits to afford coverage. Without the credits, average monthly ACA premiums in Cook County are projected to rise by approximately 95 percent, potentially forcing many families to lose insurance coverage.

The looming ACA coverage gap comes as Cook County Health also faces additional financial strain following President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which reduced Medicaid funding by more than $1 trillion nationwide and imposed new work requirements.

“More than 3 million Illinois residents, or one in four statewide, depend on Medicaid, which accounts for approximately 56 percent of Cook County Health’s patient revenue,” the statement added. “The system estimates it could lose $88 million annually in Medicaid reimbursements as patients lose coverage.”

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