Older Texans Face Steep ACA Price Hikes

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About 1 million Texans over the age of 45 who receive health insurance coverage through the federal Affordable Care Act will likely face monthly premiums of more than $1,000, the Austin American-Statesman reported. That accounts for one-fourth of the state’s 4 million ACA enrollees.

The Republican-led Congress has thus far refused to extend pandemic-era subsidies that reduced ACA premiums, a factor in the recent government shutdown. Part of the deal to reopen the government includes a promise to hold a vote on the issue in December, but it appears unlikely to pass.

Texas insurers have raised ACA premiums by an average of 35%, but the hikes have been even higher for older enrollees.

“So price impacts tend to hit older folks the hardest,” said Laura Dague, who is the James M. Griffin professor of health policy at Texas A&M University. That is because insurance companies consider them higher risk, she added.

Abbott Demands Action on Mexico’s Violation of Water Treaty Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality have demanded Mexico address its failure to meet the minimum requirements to deliver water to the United States under a 1944 water treaty.

“Mexico must be held accountable for (its) continued breaches of our long-standing water agreement,” Abbott said. “Because of their pattern of neglect, Texas farmers are enduring preventable hardship and an erosion of the agricultural viability of the Rio Grande Valley.”

Abbott said Mexico has failed to supply more than two years’worth of water — almost 2 million acre-feet. He said that has had a severe negative impact on the state’s agricultural industry. “Economic losses from delayed water deliveries cannot be recovered,” said TCEQ Commissioner Tonya Miller. “Texas communities across the lower Rio Grande Valley will continue to suffer unless Mexico starts meeting their treaty obligations.” Under the treaty, the United States has consistently met its delivery obligations on the Colorado River, while Mexico has significantly breached its commitments on the Rio Grande River, Abbott said.

The state’s two U.S. senators, Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, have proposed a bill that would hold Mexico accountable for failing to provide water to South Texas under the 1944 treaty.