Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
A coalition is launching Thursday to push for renewing the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that are due to expire at the end of next year.
Why it matters: The group, Keep Americans Covered, has an array of heavyweight industry and patient groups behind it and points to the need to keep premium costs down.
Driving the news: The coalition features groups that are not always on the same side, including AHIP, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Families USA, the Federation of American Hospitals, AARP and the American College of Physicians.
- The coalition plans to run ads, though the timing is to be determined.
- Lauren Aronson, a Democratic health policy veteran and a partner with Mehlman Consulting, is the coalition's executive director.
- On a bipartisan note, Brendan Buck, a former adviser to former GOP Speakers Paul Ryan and John Boehner and now a partner at Seven Letter, is handling communications for the coalition.
- We first wrote in June about this coalition in its early stages. It is now formally launching.
What they're saying: "If these enhanced tax credits are taken away, more than 20 million patients, younger and older, in red states and blue, will see their premiums skyrocket, putting lifesaving care out of reach for many," said Katie Berge, director of federal affairs at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a member of the coalition.
What's next: The subsidy push could be an uphill climb with congressional Republicans, who view them as an expensive handout to insurers.
- Still, it's possible that in a divided government, a deal could be worked out to extend the subsidies along with some of the expiring Trump tax cuts.
