Losing Healthcare is a Political Choice -- And Republicans Made It
- Jena Crisler, Candidate, VA House District 35
- Oct 13
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 15
A Letter from Jena: Why I’m Fighting to Protect Your Health Care
Hello, neighbors of District 35 —
I’m Jena, and I’m a physician. Every day I see people worrying: “Can I afford my medicines? Do I delay that test or that specialist consult because of cost?” I entered this race because I believe health care is a right — not a luxury — and because I refuse to watch families be crushed under policy decisions made by people who don’t feel the burden.
Today, I want to tell you exactly what the new federal budget bill means for those of you who buy insurance through the Virginia Marketplace — and why I will fight to protect you.
What’s Changing — and Why It Matters
Under the old rules, many Virginians who used the Marketplace (Virginia’s state-based exchange) received enhanced premium tax credits (subsidies). These subsidies lowered your monthly premium burden and made plans more affordable. Virginia’s Marketplace is the only place where Virginians can get those subsidies and other savings (like cost-sharing reductions). marketplace.virginia.gov+1
Beginning in 2026, those enhanced subsidies will expire, and the law in the budget bill does nothing to renew them. Without them:
Premiums will skyrocket for many families.
The eligibility rules will tighten with more paperwork, stricter income verification, and fewer loopholes for keeping coverage. Commonwealth Fund+1
The number of uninsured Americans is projected to increase significantly. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the number of uninsured could rise by 10.9 million people because of subsidy changes and other provisions. KFF+1
For Virginia, analyses suggest over 300,000 Virginians could lose health coverage — about 166,000 from Medicaid changes and ~136,500 from Marketplace (exchange) losses. InsuraSales
To preserve the current subsidy levels in Virginia, the state would need to allocate roughly $234 million per year on its own — a daunting task. Cardinal News
Yes — Virginia has made real progress: in 2023, the uninsured rate among working-age adults dropped to just 8.7%, which is among the lowest it’s ever been. AxiosThese are gains we cannot afford to lose.
What It Will Cost You — Some Real Examples
I want to be crystal clear: these are not theoretical. These are projected increases for the same health plan, just with the subsidies removed or reduced:
A 35-year-old making $50,000: from $282.87/month to $465.97/month
A couple (both 40) with a 15-year-old and 10-year-old: from $532.05/month to $1,307.05/month
A 55-year-old couple making $80,000: from $549.50/month to $1,767.66/month
A 60-year-old couple making $40,000: from $152.02/month to $1,064.53/month
Imagine being in your 40s, 50s or 60s, working hard, paying your taxes — and then finding your health insurance bill tripled, quadrupled, or more. That’s not fair or sustainable.
And who pays the price? People who are older, people with health conditions, middle-income families. Those who already have to plan carefully.
This Is a Political Choice — and They Made It
Let’s be clear: Republicans, led by President Trump, have promised for more than a decade to “repeal and replace” Obamacare (the ACA). Yet, they have not produced a plan that ensures everyone can get affordable coverage. That isn’t a lack of ambition — it’s either incompetence or they just don't care (or both).
Instead of protecting ordinary people, they’ve chosen to:
Let tax subsidies for working families expire.
Extend or deepen tax cuts for the wealthy.
Push through stricter eligibility and red tape that makes it harder to keep or enroll in coverage.
In Virginia, Chris Runion is a member of the Republican party that is backing this law. While he did not draft it, he has stood by the party that approved it, and most likely will defend it, and refuse to challenge it.
I will not.
What We Can — and Must — Do
Here’s what I pledge to do — and what I ask you to join me in doing:
Push to repeal or block the rollback of ACA subsidies — no Virginian should have to pay three or more times more just because Congress lets protections expire.
Fight for state-level measures: Virginia can (and should) explore ways to plug the gap, create state subsidies, or maintain protections even if Washington turns its back.
Expand education and outreach: Many people won’t realize what’s happening until it’s too late. We must make sure everyone understands how much more they might be forced to pay—or what they risk losing.
Hold Chris Runion and his allies accountable: When they vote for or support policies that harm everyday Virginians, they should pay the political price.
Will You Stand With Me?
If you believe, as I do, that health care is a right — not a privilege reserved for the wealthy — then I need your help.
Contact your current representative and tell them: “Don’t let the subsidies expire. Don’t strip away health care to pay for tax cuts.”
Spread the word — talk to your neighbors, tell your friends, share this article, help them see what’s coming.
Volunteer or support my campaign so I can bring this fight to Richmond and Washington.
Vote with your health in mind. In every election, remember who fights for you and who fights for the wealthy.
I see you. I am fighting for you. And I will not walk away while policy is used as a weapon against people who are already doing their best.
Together, we can protect the health and dignity of our community. Let’s get to work.
— Jena
Dr. Jena Crisler D.O.
Internal Medicine Physician
Candidate House of Delegates, District 35