In 2022, Jason, a freelance illustrator in Pennsylvania, received a life-changing diagnosis. After asking his primary care doctor about a lump in his neck, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. He had been healthy for most of his life, and had never navigated a major health issue until his cancer diagnosis.  

Fortunately, Jason’s form of cancer was highly treatable. Along with multiple scans, appointments, and tests, Jason had surgery to remove his thyroid and 34 lymph nodes, 14 of which were cancerous. 

Video still of Jason answering the question "how has having affordable health insurance helped you? Jason is wearing in
Meet Jason, a Philadelphia-based freelance illustrator whose life changed dramatically when he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at age 33. Thanks to premium tax credits, he was able to upgrade from a basic bronze plan to silver coverage – a decision that proved life-saving. Now he advocates for extending these credits to ensure others don’t face the impossible choice between life-saving care and financial ruin.

Thanks to enhanced Premium Tax Credits (PTCs), Jason was able to afford a silver plan that helped him receive treatment from some of the best doctors in Philadelphia and top surgeons in the country. Because of his job as a freelance illustrator, Jason was previously unable to afford a better plan.  

His coverage through the silver plan proved lifesaving.  

“It’s only because of the premium tax credits that I’ve been able to afford that coverage,” Jason shares. “All of my results are looking positive, but I’m going to need to be monitored for this condition for the rest of my life in one way or another.” 

How Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Save Lives 

Enhanced Premium Tax Credits make coverage more affordable for millions by increasing their tax credit amount and allowing more people to purchase health insurance without going into debt. But these additional financial supports are set to expire in 2025, which could cause millions of people to lose affordable health coverage. 

The tax credits, alongside financial aid from the hospital, helped Jason avoid crushing medical debt from seeking care, but even with his silver plan, he faced several thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs and co-pays. 

“If you’re faced with a choice of bankruptcy or debt or saving your life, you’re probably going to choose saving your life,” Jason shares. “But the consequences of that, of having an immense amount of debt, the rest of your life could be ruined because of that.” 

Without these tax credits, more people would be uninsured and skip necessary care due to cost. Having regular checkups is vital for catching health issues early – it can be the difference between life and death.  

“People are going to die without these tax credits, because they’re going to lose their coverage. They’re going to miss a diagnosis,” Jason said. “I don’t even know if I would have been able to find this without the silver plan. I might have not gone for my checkup.” 

People who do seek care without affordable coverage could fall into crushing medical debt, which has long-lasting consequences on both financial stability and health.  

Advocacy in Action 

Jason now advocates for extending the enhanced Premium Tax Credits or better yet, making them permanent, so that others can access this lifesaving, affordable coverage. He recently shared his story with congressional staff at a D.C. Day of Action. 

“Not only did this plan save my life, along with the doctors and everybody, but it’s something that I don’t know what I’ll do if it’s taken away. It would be catastrophic for me to lose this coverage,” Jason said. “That’s why I think it’s imperative that if you are somebody who has the power to extend these tax credits or possibly even make them permanent, you need to do that.” 

Learn more about the fight to extend enhanced Premium Tax Credits.