Himali Patel (Atlanta, GA) is a small business owner who relies on the ACA. Before the pandemic struck, Himali and her brother owned five small retail businesses. Due to the pandemic, they’ve had to make hard decisions, and they’re now down to one — a dry-cleaning establishment. They have seen a disheartening drop in their income as COVID-19 ravaged the economy. Patel, an Atlantan who has multiple medical conditions, has been getting her health insurance through the Georgia exchange. The federal Affordable Care Act created these exchanges in the various states so people who don’t have coverage through an employer or government agency can buy health insurance at a reasonable price. She had been paying $400 a month. With her drop in income, that’s now at $60. But with the American Rescue Plan, her premium should drop to zero.
