Raphael Warnock: “They are not impressed. But we know that this would impact thousands of Georgians who have only recently been able to…”

“They are not impressed. But we know that this would impact thousands of Georgians who have only recently been able to receive healthcare. We passed in that American Rescue Plan these tax credits, which put healthcare in reach, and now they are set to expire if we don't do our work. That is why what you are doing, Cory Booker, is holy work. It is within a political context, but this is holy work. If these tax credits are allowed to expire, a 45-year-old in Georgia with $62,000 in annual income would see premiums go up by $1,414 a year. A 60-year-old couple in Georgia with an $82,000 annual income would see premiums go up by a staggering $18,157 a year. Think about that. Nearly one-third of Americans have less than $500 in savings in their bank account. Imagine the healthcare costs for a 60-year-old couple going up by more than $18,000. A health insurance premium hike like this would be more than an inconvenience. It wouldn't just be a nuisance. It is literally the difference between having healthcare coverage and not having healthcare coverage. So I am thinking about people like that. I am thinking about my constituent Cassie Cox from Bainbridge, GA. She wasn't able to afford healthcare on the Affordable Care Act marketplace until the premium tax credit brought healthcare into reach. Shortly after she became insured, she severely cut her hand, which landed her in the emergency room with 35 stitches. With insurance, it still cost her about $300.…”