In Utah Valley and at Timpanogos Regional Hospital, we believe in showing up for one another. Whether it’s healing after a successful preventive surgery or bringing home a healthy newborn, our communities thrive when families can access the health care they need.
But today, access to care is at risk for our friends and neighbors.
More than 90,000 Utah County residents rely on Enhanced Premium Tax Credits to make purchasing health insurance through the individual Marketplace affordable. These tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year if Congress does not act.
Introduced in 2021, the tax credits were designed to ensure that no one pays more than 8.5% of their household income on health insurance. They have made coverage accessible for people without access to employer-sponsored coverage. Many are working families, small business owners, part-time and gig workers, students, and pre-retirees. The tax credits are essential for the families we serve across Provo, Orem, and surrounding communities.
Without these tax credits, the average monthly premium in Utah County would be more than $450. With them, monthly payments drop below $60. For most families, that’s the difference between keeping coverage and having to go without.
When coverage disappears, so does peace of mind. Parents are forced to choose between paying for health insurance or paying for groceries, rent, child care, or medications. Too often, health care ends up last on the list, not because it doesn’t matter, but because it simply is too expensive.
When patients lose health coverage, they often delay care until issues become severe. That means more people arriving in emergency rooms with worsened conditions that could have been easily treated earlier — or avoided altogether. More complex health conditions are harder on patients, take longer to treat and are more expensive. It puts pressure on every part of our system: longer ER wait times, higher uncompensated care costs, and fewer resources for vital programs.
In 2024 alone, Timpanogos Regional saw over 24,000 ER visits, 4,400 inpatient stays, nearly 14,000 surgeries, and almost 1,800 births. We are proud to serve our patients, but like many hospitals across Utah Valley, experiencing a growing coverage gap would stretch our system thin.
Rising uncompensated care could force Utah Valley hospitals to cut services, postpone infrastructure upgrades, or even reduce staff. But the ripple effect doesn’t stop there. When hospitals can’t invest in growth, it slows job creation, disrupts supply chains, and weakens the very economy that depends on a healthy, working population.
If Enhanced Premium Tax Credits expire, Utah is projected to lose nearly 3,000 jobs — about half directly impacting health care industries — and $335 million in GDP by 2026.
Utah families deserve stability, and our hospitals need support to continue delivering world-class care.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have already acknowledged the importance of keeping these tax credits in place. A bipartisan bill introduced by House Republicans and moderate Democrats would extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits for another year. Doing so would prevent sudden premium hikes and preserve stability for families and hospitals.
Inaction is not an option. Too much is at stake. That’s why I am calling on Senator John Curtis, Senator Mike Lee, and our congressional representatives to stand with Utah families and ensure these tax credits are extended.
The health of Utah Valley depends on it.
Andrew Zenger is CEO at Timpanogos Regional Hospital. Previously, he served as COO at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.
