Representative Veronica Escobar, who has repeatedly secured election victories in Texas’ 16th Congressional District, warned on September 25, 2025, that thousands of her constituents could face increased health care costs and loss of coverage if Republican-backed policies move forward.
In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Escobar stated, “92,000 people in Texas’ 16th Congressional District will see their health care costs increase if Republicans let critical tax credits expire. – For a 60-year-old couple earning, $82,800 a year, annual premiums will increase by $17,290 or 265%.” She further detailed the impact on families in the district in another post the same day: “- For a family of four earning $64,000 a year, annual premiums will increase by $2,571 or 263%. – For a family of four earning $129,800 a year, annual premiums will increase by $9,073 or 86%.”
Escobar also highlighted potential Medicaid losses due to proposed policy changes. On September 25 she wrote: “43,424 people in Texas’ 16th Congressional District will lose health coverage because of Republican cuts to Medicaid (also known in Texas as STAR+PLUS) due to provisions in Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ and Republican plans to gut the Affordable Care Act.”
Veronica Escobar has represented Texas’ 16th Congressional District since her first win against Rick Seeberger in the 2018 general election. She has consistently defeated Irene Armendariz-Jackson in subsequent elections: winning with significant margins in both the 2020 and 2022 contests and again prevailing over Armendariz-Jackson in the most recent election held in 2024.
The STAR+PLUS program referenced by Escobar is Texas’s Medicaid managed care program for adults with disabilities and those aged over sixty-five. The Affordable Care Act remains central to debates about health insurance access across the country.
