Sarah Lueck
@sarahl202.bsky.social
VP for Health Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. DSM native and @WSJ alumna. Views expressed here are mine. she/her
Just 0.6% of people receiving premium credits make more than 800% of the poverty level (or about $125K for an individual). That’s far short of $600K & federal spending on credits for people with somewhat higher incomes is miniscule. This is not a tax benefit for wealthy people.
September 17, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Just 0.6% of people receiving premium credits make more than 800% of the poverty level (or about $125K for an individual). That’s far short of $600K & federal spending on credits for people with somewhat higher incomes is miniscule. This is not a tax benefit for wealthy people.
Despite claims to the contrary, premium tax credits are well targeted to people with low & moderate incomes who need the most help with health costs. Three-quarters of people getting the credits have incomes below 300% FPL (~$47K for an individual). >90% have incomes below 400% FPL (~$63K)
September 17, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Despite claims to the contrary, premium tax credits are well targeted to people with low & moderate incomes who need the most help with health costs. Three-quarters of people getting the credits have incomes below 300% FPL (~$47K for an individual). >90% have incomes below 400% FPL (~$63K)
The latest CBO estimates make clear that the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” is anything but--it would cause widespread harm with more than $1T in cuts to Medicaid & ACA marketplaces and higher costs for families trying to afford health care and groceries.
July 21, 2025 at 9:41 PM
The latest CBO estimates make clear that the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” is anything but--it would cause widespread harm with more than $1T in cuts to Medicaid & ACA marketplaces and higher costs for families trying to afford health care and groceries.
Senate Republicans made a horrible bill even worse. Let's count the ways:
July 2, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Senate Republicans made a horrible bill even worse. Let's count the ways:
As the Senate continues its debate, let’s hope Senators weighing how the bill will impact their constituents do the math and that House members (some of whom thought the Senate would reduce the harm of the bill) do too.
June 29, 2025 at 7:45 PM
As the Senate continues its debate, let’s hope Senators weighing how the bill will impact their constituents do the math and that House members (some of whom thought the Senate would reduce the harm of the bill) do too.
CBO says 11.8M people would become uninsured by 2034 if the bill is enacted, up from 10.9M under the House bill. Add in the 4.2M who would become uninsured b/c of the failure to extend enhanced PTCs + the Admin’s rule changes to the marketplace &total uninsured = about 17M.
June 29, 2025 at 7:45 PM
CBO says 11.8M people would become uninsured by 2034 if the bill is enacted, up from 10.9M under the House bill. Add in the 4.2M who would become uninsured b/c of the failure to extend enhanced PTCs + the Admin’s rule changes to the marketplace &total uninsured = about 17M.
Senate Republican leaders appear to be barreling ahead with their harmful reconciliation bill. Reminder that the Republican health agenda would take us backward on covering the uninsured, largely reversing #ACA gains. 👎
(h/t @pkrugman.bsky.social for the graphic idea)
(h/t @pkrugman.bsky.social for the graphic idea)
June 28, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Senate Republican leaders appear to be barreling ahead with their harmful reconciliation bill. Reminder that the Republican health agenda would take us backward on covering the uninsured, largely reversing #ACA gains. 👎
(h/t @pkrugman.bsky.social for the graphic idea)
(h/t @pkrugman.bsky.social for the graphic idea)
June 28, 2025 at 4:54 PM
$1 trillion > $15 billion
And a capped fund that Congress could shrink or cannibalize in the future isn’t a substitute for the foundation of rural hospital stability: Medicaid. www.cbpp.org/blog/trackin...
And a capped fund that Congress could shrink or cannibalize in the future isn’t a substitute for the foundation of rural hospital stability: Medicaid. www.cbpp.org/blog/trackin...
June 25, 2025 at 2:54 PM
$1 trillion > $15 billion
And a capped fund that Congress could shrink or cannibalize in the future isn’t a substitute for the foundation of rural hospital stability: Medicaid. www.cbpp.org/blog/trackin...
And a capped fund that Congress could shrink or cannibalize in the future isn’t a substitute for the foundation of rural hospital stability: Medicaid. www.cbpp.org/blog/trackin...
Five ways the House reconciliation bill takes away health coverage and raises costs.
May 28, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Five ways the House reconciliation bill takes away health coverage and raises costs.
If Congress ends enhanced PTCs, the devastating impacts will not be felt equally. Almost half of the estimated 4M ppl who would become uninsured are Black or Latino.
May 12, 2025 at 8:54 PM
If Congress ends enhanced PTCs, the devastating impacts will not be felt equally. Almost half of the estimated 4M ppl who would become uninsured are Black or Latino.
Without these enhanced credits, marketplace enrollees costs will soar - many will see their premiums rise thousands of dollars a year & those who are older or live in areas with high premiums will face some of the biggest increases.
May 12, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Without these enhanced credits, marketplace enrollees costs will soar - many will see their premiums rise thousands of dollars a year & those who are older or live in areas with high premiums will face some of the biggest increases.
Higher premiums could push some people to go uninsured and others to struggle. Michael, a marketplace enrollee in Arizona, is already struggling with basics like food and rent. A premium hike would force him to make tough choices. www.cbpp.org/research/hea...
March 20, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Higher premiums could push some people to go uninsured and others to struggle. Michael, a marketplace enrollee in Arizona, is already struggling with basics like food and rent. A premium hike would force him to make tough choices. www.cbpp.org/research/hea...
President Trump and Republicans in Congress have not acted to extend premium tax credits that are about to expire, meaning that 20 million+ people will see their premiums spike when they shop for marketplace plans this fall.
March 20, 2025 at 3:06 PM
President Trump and Republicans in Congress have not acted to extend premium tax credits that are about to expire, meaning that 20 million+ people will see their premiums spike when they shop for marketplace plans this fall.
We are coming up on 15 years since enactment of the #ACA. The law has helped millions gain coverage, reduced millions of people’s costs, and improved access to care. The law also narrowed coverage gaps across racial and ethnic groups, geography, and for LGBTQ+ communities.
March 20, 2025 at 3:06 PM
We are coming up on 15 years since enactment of the #ACA. The law has helped millions gain coverage, reduced millions of people’s costs, and improved access to care. The law also narrowed coverage gaps across racial and ethnic groups, geography, and for LGBTQ+ communities.
The House appears poised to vote on a budget resolution that includes potentially $880b in Medicaid cuts. Check out a new report from @kff.org describing concerns that Medicaid enrollees -- including a number who voted for President Trump -- raised about Medicaid cuts. www.kff.org/medicaid/rep...
February 25, 2025 at 8:26 PM
The House appears poised to vote on a budget resolution that includes potentially $880b in Medicaid cuts. Check out a new report from @kff.org describing concerns that Medicaid enrollees -- including a number who voted for President Trump -- raised about Medicaid cuts. www.kff.org/medicaid/rep...
We have the resources to ensure people have health coverage through #Medicaid and the marketplaces. Listen to Olivia talk about the importance of her marketplace plan in the @centeronbudget.bsky.social post below.
February 25, 2025 at 5:06 PM
We have the resources to ensure people have health coverage through #Medicaid and the marketplaces. Listen to Olivia talk about the importance of her marketplace plan in the @centeronbudget.bsky.social post below.
Rep. Bacon and other House Republicans are asking the right question: How can you cut $880 billion or more and still spare people who get their health coverage from #Medicaid? You can't! punchbowl.news/archive/2212...
February 21, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Rep. Bacon and other House Republicans are asking the right question: How can you cut $880 billion or more and still spare people who get their health coverage from #Medicaid? You can't! punchbowl.news/archive/2212...
The House Budget Committee is set to consider enormous cuts in Medicaid-$880b or more-in its budget bill.Cuts this deep to a program that provides health care to 72m people would shift huge costs to states and slash people's eligibility and benefits.The stakes couldn't be higher
February 13, 2025 at 2:57 PM
The House Budget Committee is set to consider enormous cuts in Medicaid-$880b or more-in its budget bill.Cuts this deep to a program that provides health care to 72m people would shift huge costs to states and slash people's eligibility and benefits.The stakes couldn't be higher