SOLANA BEACH, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — With the government shutdown entering its fifth week, Representative Mike Levin (CA-49) spoke about increasing health insurance costs at a press conference on Wednesday.
Levin, who represents much of North County, said 8,800 residents in his district will be priced out of their health insurance. The shutdown began due to a stalemate in Congress with Democrats wanting to extend healthcare premium assistance and Republicans wanting to move forward with their spending budget.
“We cannot simply ignore our duties and responsibilities while families across the country are facing out of control health care costs,” Levin said. “I’m serious about protecting health care for millions of Americans, reopening the government, and getting us back to serving our constituents.”
Encinitas resident Brooks Thomas shared Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits helped him receive healthcare, and he may not be able to afford increased premiums moving forward.
“I received notice that my premium would increase in 2026 by approximately 94% and would go up to $949 a month,” Thomas said. “Frankly, I can’t really afford to spend $489 a month now and I will definitely be unable to spend almost $12,000 a year for health insurance next year.”
If premium tax credits aren’t extended, a 60-year-old couple with an income of $85,000 may see their premiums increase to over $22,600 next year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Those with an income 400% above poverty will see major increases to premiums, approximately one in 10 ACA enrollees meet this threshold.
“A year ago, everyone saw this coming, so I can say on behalf of the physician community that we are extremely disappointed this issue is being handled like a last-minute term paper by a high school student,” San Diego County Medical Society Dr. Robert Hertzka said.
Republican leadership maintains Democrats are responsible for the shutdown and the impacts it has caused.
“Democrats could have avoided all this chaos — EVERY missed paycheck, EVERY frozen SNAP benefit, EVERY ounce of pain being inflicted on working Americans — by simply voting for the clean CR funding bill,” Speaker of the House Mike Johnson posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
San Diego area Representative Darrell Issa has also stated he believes Democrats are to blame for the shutdown.
“Nobody is buying that Democrats aren’t in charge of this government shutdown,” Issa posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Other than health care impacts, many government employees are now going without a paycheck. Democrat Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) introduced legislation in October to ensure Members of Congress would also go without pay during shutdowns.
“Putting our paychecks on the line alongside servicemembers and federal workers and requiring Members of Congress to stay in Washington during a shutdown, would light a fire under Congress to end the gridlock,” Peters stated.
On Day 36, the shutdown became the longest in U.S. history. It is unclear when the government will reopen.
“The consequences of this shutdown for Americans are only growing more dire,” Peters added.
