A small-business owner from Mississippi’s 2nd U.S. House District owes his life to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits. Before these credits existed, he was caught in a dangerous bind — insurance companies refused him coverage or quoted unaffordable rates of $2,000 to $3,000 per month. Without insurance, even a routine doctor’s visit felt impossible.
Thanks to the ACA’s premium tax credits, he finally secured an affordable health plan. This coverage enabled him to undergo life-saving heart surgery, restoring his health and quality of life.
How the ACA Changed Lives and Businesses
Today, this same man runs his own business, provides insurance for six employees, and supports his family. His story represents thousands of Mississippians who rely on the ACA for stability. However, Republican lawmakers in Washington are now pushing policies that threaten to eliminate these essential health credits.
Currently, the nation faces what could be the longest government shutdown in U.S. history because some Republican leaders are attempting to end ACA premium tax credits. If this happens, Mississippi families—especially in the 2nd Congressional District—will suffer the most.
The Stakes for Mississippi Residents
These tax credits are often the only reason families can afford insurance. Without them, premiums in Mississippi could rise by 314%, leaving 338,159 residents at risk of losing coverage—including 81,000 people in the 2nd District alone.
For example, a 54-year-old small-business owner currently pays $268 per month for ACA Marketplace coverage. Without tax credits, her premium would soar to nearly $900 monthly—a devastating jump that could force her to sacrifice essentials like food, medicine, or mortgage payments.
The Truth About H.R. 1 and Rural Health
Republicans are also promoting the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, part of their H.R. 1 “Big Ugly Bill.” They claim it will save rural hospitals, but the reality is different.
This one-time fund was designed to replace long-term programs such as Medicaid expansion and ACA subsidies—programs that have sustained hospitals for years. Spreading $50 billion over five years across 50 states is a mere short-term fix, not a sustainable solution.
Had Mississippi expanded Medicaid, it could have received nearly $15 billion in federal funds, enough to stabilize hospitals and communities. Instead, 338 rural hospitals nationwide—including eight in Mississippi—are on the brink of closure. Four of these, Delta Health (Clarksdale), Greenwood Leflore (Greenwood), Panola Medical (Batesville), and Baptist Medical Center (Yazoo City), are in the 2nd District and struggling financially.
The Domino Effect of Losing Coverage
If ACA costs rise, families may skip preventive checkups, delay medications, and arrive sicker at emergency rooms, increasing costs for everyone.
To make matters worse, the Republican-led shutdown could halt SNAP benefits for nearly 42 million Americans in November, including 357,000 Mississippians. Without food assistance, families will struggle even more. Health and nutrition are deeply connected—and both are now at risk.
A Call for Fairness and Compassion
Members of Congress enjoy health insurance. Denying that same opportunity to hardworking citizens is hypocrisy. The government could reopen immediately if Republicans worked alongside Democrats to protect access to health care and food support.
In Mississippi, communities care for one another. Our leaders should do the same. The fight for fairness, access, and dignity continues—and it won’t stop until every family receives the support they deserve.
