At a press conference in South Florida, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz sounded an urgent warning about what she called an escalating health care crisis and the potential fallout of a looming government shutdown. Flanked by local residents and health advocates, she described how recent policy decisions and legislative gridlock could make health care more expensive and less accessible for millions of Americans — particularly in her state.

A major concern is the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, which have helped keep insurance premiums lower for families and individuals since the pandemic. Without an extension, Wasserman Schultz said premiums could jump dramatically — an average of 72% nationwide, with Florida among the hardest hit. She noted that in her district alone, more than 200,000 people rely on ACA coverage. For a family of four earning around $64,000 a year, premiums could rise by more than $2,500 annually, while some younger couples could face yearly increases exceeding $2,400. “Almost no young family has that kind of extra money sitting around,” she said.

The congresswoman also criticized deep Medicaid cuts recently advanced in a Republican-led spending proposal, which she said could remove coverage from as many as 16 million Americans, including some of the country’s most vulnerable populations. She warned this would place additional strain on already struggling hospitals, especially in rural communities.

The press conference tied the health care concerns to the broader fight over government funding. With just days left before the federal fiscal year ends, Congress faces a potential shutdown if no budget agreement is reached. Wasserman Schultz said Democrats are prepared to negotiate a bipartisan solution to keep the government open while protecting health care programs. But she expressed frustration that House leaders had canceled key legislative sessions and that talks with Republican leadership have stalled.

The stakes go beyond health care, she added, pointing to families already struggling with high living costs — from groceries and rent to insurance rates. A shutdown, she argued, would worsen economic uncertainty without addressing those burdens.

In closing, Wasserman Schultz urged lawmakers to return to the negotiating table, calling on both parties to find common ground before critical programs lapse and families face rising costs or lost coverage. “We need to sit down and talk because people’s health care is at stake,” she said.

Source: Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz