CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE SPOTLIGHTS LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IMPACTED BY SKYROCKETING HEALTHCARE COSTS

(Rochester, N.Y.)—Today, Congressman Joe Morelle held a press conference to share the story of Lauren Goetz, a local small business owner whose healthcare premiums rose by nearly 350% in 2026 due to the expiration of the Affordable Care Act Enhanced Premium Tax Credits.

“Hard-working small business owners like Lauren Goetz are being forced into impossible choices because Senate Republicans and the Trump Administration failed to act—choices between their health and the businesses they worked their whole lives to build,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “Health insurance should never be the reason a small business closes, jobs disappear, or vital community services are lost. The House has already passed a bipartisan extension of these tax credits, and now the Senate and the Trump administration must do their jobs and deliver relief before stories like Lauren’s become commonplace.”

Lauren Goetz, Owner/Founder of Everyday Hands, Inc., said: “Our monthly premium increased from $314 per month to $1,397 per month for the same level of coverage. That increase alone is hundreds of dollars more than our monthly mortgage. I am trying to survive within a system that no longer feels affordable, predictable, or within my control. Health insurance should not be the reason small businesses close, jobs disappear, or essential community services vanish.”

Bob Duffy, President & CEO of Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, said: “Ensuring that businesses and individuals in our community can take care of themselves and their employees with affordable and reliable healthcare is paramount to our community’s success and vitality. Thank you to Lauren Goetz for sharing her story, one which is all too common among hard-working families, and to Congressman Morelle and our other partners in government working to find a solution for this urgent and critical issue. Greater Rochester Chamber looks forward to continued collaboration to support our community and the needs of all who live, work, and play here.”

New York State Senator Jeremy Cooney said: “Affordable Care Act subsidies are a lifeline for countless Americans. I’m grateful for the leaders like Congressman Morelle who are fighting for our healthcare at the federal level, and I will continue to complement these efforts in the state legislature to provide New Yorkers with the access they deserve.”

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) established premium tax credits (PTCs) to make health insurance more affordable for those purchasing plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace. The PTCs were then expanded, or “enhanced” to add eligibility for Americans whose income exceeds 400% of the federal poverty level.

At the end of 2025, there were about 6.7 million New Yorkers enrolled in health insurance via the state’s NY State of Health Marketplace, and over 1.6 million of those people benefit from the enhanced PTCs, including about 46,500 in the Rochester region.

At the end of December, House Republicans decided not to hold a vote and allowed the PTCs to expire. In response, Rep. Morelle and House Democrats, with the help of a handful of House Republicans, overrode the majority and passed a 3-year extension of the PTCs earlier this month. The legislation is now paused in the U.S. Senate, where Republican Senators refuse to support the package.

Following the expiration of the PTCs, families in our community saw their premiums for 2026 increase by an average of 41% per month. In the case of Lauren Goetz, her premiums increased by nearly 350%, putting her annual premium at over $28,000.

“This is just plain cruel,” continued Morelle. “Donald Trump and Senate Republicans need to join us and take action to rein in healthcare costs that are devastating families and businesses alike.”

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