Open enrollment for The Health Insurance Marketplace begins Saturday, Nov. 1, and because Congress still has not extended the enhanced premium tax credits, hundreds of thousands of Floridians, including cancer patients and survivors, are facing significant premium increases.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) has long advocated for Congress to extend the enhanced health care tax credits, which help make comprehensive health insurance more affordable for 24 million people across the country who buy coverage through the Marketplaces, including 4,735,415 Floridians who get their coverage through the Marketplace. If Congress allows the enhanced tax credits to expire, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects that 4.2 million people will become uninsured nationwide.

Susan Harbin, Florida government relations director for ACS CAN, released the following statement:

“Nearly everyone with Marketplace insurance will face a significant increase in their costs for next year, but the spikes for those who rely on the enhanced premium tax credits will be massive. These increases will put quality, affordable coverage out of reach for many Floridians. For cancer patients in active treatment, a loss of coverage would be life-threatening.

“Research clearly shows that having health insurance is one of the most significant factors in surviving a cancer diagnosis. Without access to the care needed to get well and stay well, people will live sicker and die sooner.

“Congress still has a chance to make this right and find a pathway to extend the tax credits before it’s too late. Our congressional delegation needs to know that lives depend on it.”