Don’t let affordable health insurance slip away

Dear Editor:

If Congress doesn’t act soon to extend federal health care tax credits, 350,000 Virginians could lose access to affordable health insurance. That includes the hardworking individuals who power our small businesses, whether they provide child care, repair our vehicles, or keep our homes clean.

I’m the President and CEO of You’ve Got Maids NoVa, a locally owned cleaning company based in Loudoun County. I also serve on the Board of StoneSprings Hospital Center and am an active member of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce. In every one of these roles, I see how important health coverage is—and how damaging it would be if the enhanced premium tax credits expire at the end of the year.

Most of our full-time cleaners earn less than $50,000 a year. They don’t qualify for Medicaid, and small businesses like mine usually can’t offer group health plans. That means the individual Marketplace is often their only option, and the tax credits are what make it affordable.

The work they do is not easy. It’s physical. It involves repetitive motion, exposure to chemicals, and the risk of injury. Without health insurance, even small health problems can lead to worsening conditions or leaving the job entirely.

I’m lucky to have coverage through my husband’s job. But I know many others in this industry who don’t have that option. If these tax credits go away, premiums could nearly double. That would force many people to drop their coverage altogether.

If the tax credit expires, Virginia would lose more than 2,000 jobs and $250 million in economic activity. That’s not something our communities can afford.

Congress has the opportunity to protect families, support small businesses, and strengthen our economy. I urge them to extend the enhanced premium tax credits before it’s too late.

Natasha Magrath
President & CEO, You’ve Got Maids NoVa, Sterling