Lee Announces Single Mom Facing Skyrocketing Health Care Costs as Guest for State of the Union
Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee announced Katie Provost, a social worker and single mom who relies on the ACA tax credits to afford health care for her and her four-year-old daughter, will be her guest to President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union.
“Because Republicans made the cruel and reckless decision to end the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, hardworking Nevadans are paying the price. One such Nevadan is my guest, Katie, who now finds health care unaffordable for her and her daughter. Sadly, her story is one that is all too common because this Administration would rather protect the interests of the wealthy and well-connected than those of working mothers like Katie,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “There will be a lot of talk tomorrow evening, but what the President won’t mention is how he’s made health care unaffordable for millions of Americans like Katie in order to give tax cuts to billionaires and big corporations.”
“For more than a decade, I’ve served our community in inpatient and outpatient mental health, managed care, crisis intervention during the Route 91 Harvest Festival, and hospital social work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. My career has been devoted to helping Nevadans navigate crisis and instability. I’m also a single mother to my four-year-old daughter, Charlee. I am her sole provider. I cover everything — housing, daycare, food, clothing, activities — and most importantly, health care,” said Katie Provost. “The ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits made health coverage possible for my family. With the expiration of the tax credits and the 26% premium increase given to insurance companies in Nevada, I’m now facing paying $745 a month for coverage. That’s simply not sustainable. It forces families like mine to consider cutting essentials or risk going uninsured.”
Before Republicans ended the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, Katie paid $85/month for her health care. Now, without the tax credits and coupled with the rise in insurance rates across the board, the same plan costs $745/month for her and her daughter.
Katie’s not alone – nearly 30,000 southern Nevadans depended on the ACA tax credits to afford health care. Congresswoman Lee has continued to sound the alarm and fight to restore these tax credits. Lee visited Federally Qualified Health Centers that could be forced to cut services, met with southern Nevadans who will face debilitating cost increases, and heard from providers who worried about what these cuts could mean for their patients. Without these credits, costs for families could rise by up to fourfold. She also cosponsors the Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act, which would provide a one-year extension of the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, providing members of Congress time to negotiate a permanent solution.
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