2024

Senate HELP Committee Chair Bernie Sanders Calls On Merck and J&J to Explain Sky-High Prices for American Patients 

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is holding a press conference calling on Merck and J&J CEOs to testify in front of the Senate HELP Committee about high drug prices. The news comes as the HELP Committee is scheduled to vote on a subpoena for both CEOs next week. To date, these companies have refused to testify despite producing some of the most expensive prescription drugs on the market. Both companies are suing the federal government to stop Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices for seniors in a blatant effort to protect their massive profits. In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement: 

“We commend Senator Sanders for his tireless efforts to bring down drug prices for patients. While companies like Merck and J&J are raking in billions, Americans are routinely skipping doses and cutting pills in half because of the outrageous cost of lifesaving medications. Merck and J&J’s Janssen are in court right now to stop Medicare from negotiating lower prices in order to keep prices high for patients. We are all sick and tired of being ripped off by big drug companies, and these CEOs owe it to the American people to testify.” 

Background:

GREED WATCH: Johnson and Johnson Touts Strong Earnings As They Sue to Protect Their Profits By Blocking Medicare From Negotiating Lower Prices

GREED WATCH: Merck Announces Over One Billion More Revenue This Quarter Than Last Year

“At a time when more Americans are enrolling in the ACA than ever before, it is outlandish that the likely GOP nominee is even considering another attempt at repeal,” said Brad Woodhouse, executive director of Protect Our Care.

Yesterday, the Biden administration announced that a record-breaking 21.3 million Americans have signed up for health care on the Affordable Care Act Marketplace for 2024 coverage. Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, four out of five enrollees were able to find a plan for $10 or less per month. Even as more Americans are relying on the ACA than ever, presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has continued his threats to repeal the Affordable Care Act and throw millions of families off their health care coverage.

HEADLINES

The Washington Post: Obamacare Enrollment Hits Record Level As Trump Vows Repeal. “‘At a time when more Americans are enrolling in the ACA than ever before, it is outlandish that the likely GOP nominee is even considering another attempt at repeal,’ Brad Woodhouse, executive director of Protect Our Care, a Democrat-aligned health-care advocacy group, said in a statement. About 3 in 5 voters — including 1 in 5 Republicans — trust Democratic politicians more than Republicans to handle the future of the Affordable Care Act, according to polling released last month by KFF.” [The Washington Post, 1/24/24]

CNN: Obamacare Sign-Ups Hit Record 21.3 Million As Biden Pushes His Efforts To Lower Health Care Costs. “Nearly 5 million more people signed up for Obamacare policies for this year compared with last year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees the Affordable Care Act marketplaces, said Wednesday. Notably, about a quarter of people selecting plans were new consumers… The explosion in interest in Obamacare policies would make it harder for Trump to dismantle the health reform law, as he and congressional Republicans unsuccessfully tried to do after he took office in 2017. Only about 12.2 million people signed up for Affordable Care Act coverage during that open enrollment period.” [CNN, 1/24/24]

Modern Healthcare: Open Enrollment Breaks 21M For 2024. “Nearly 4.2 million people with incomes of less than 250% of the federal poverty level signed up for 2024 coverage, the agency said. Medicaid redeterminations that began last year helped push up the numbers. As of Dec. 31, about 15% of people who enrolled through the federal HealthCare.gov portal were previously enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.” [Modern Healthcare, 1/24/24]

Spectrum News: Record 21.3 Million Signed Up For Affordable Care Act Plans, Biden Announces. “The number represents a more than 30% increase from the previous year, when 16.3 million Americans signed up, according to the White House. In total, 9 million additional people have enrolled in plans through HealthCare.gov or state-based marketplaces since Biden took office three years ago… Health policy experts have attributed the increase in enrollments largely to federal subsidies for people purchasing plans. The subsidies were included in two pieces of major legislation spearheaded by Biden: the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act.” [Spectrum News, 1/24/24]

Axios: ACA Enrollment Surged In Red States This Year. “The 30.7% annual increase in ACA sign-ups comes as former President Trump’s renewed calls for repeal have again raised doubts about the law’s future. Enrollment figures released by federal health officials on Wednesday indicate that Republican-leaning states would be heavily affected by the law’s repeal. States with the largest year-over-year increase in sign-ups include West Virginia (80.2%), Louisiana (75.9%), Ohio (62.2%), Indiana (59.5%) and Tennessee (59.5%), according to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees the marketplaces.” [Axios, 1/24/24]

The Hill: Obamacare Marks Third Year of Record Enrollment With 5 Million More Sign-Ups. “Biden called for lowered premiums enacted through the Inflation Reduction Act to be made permanent. The president also went after Republicans in Congress for having ‘a different vision. … Their recent budget would get rid of the improvements I signed into law, raising costs for millions of people,” Biden said. “If the extreme Republicans in Congress get their way, millions of families would face skyrocketing health care costs or lose their health care altogether. I won’t let it happen on my watch, and I’ll keep fighting to bring down health care and prescription drug costs.’” [The Hill, 1/24/24]

Reuters: US Signs Up Record 21.3 Million People for 2024 Obamacare Plans. “‘For decades, when it came to federal programs we could depend on to keep Americans covered, three were always top of mind — Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, but now it’s crystal clear that we need to add a fourth — the Affordable Care Act,’ said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.” [Reuters, 1/24/24]

MSNBC: ACA Enrollment Totals Soar as Republicans Renew Attacks. “For health care advocates, the data is encouraging on its own, and it reflects what’s possible when congressional Democrats lower premiums and an administration commits to covering as many Americans as possible.” [MSNBC, 1/25/24]

AlterNet: Trump’s Call To Repeal Obamacare Blasted As ‘Outlandish’ As Signups Hit New Record High. “‘At a time when more Americans are enrolling in the ACA than ever before, it is outlandish that the likely GOP nominee is even considering another attempt at repeal,’ Brad Woodhouse, who is executive director of the progressive nonprofit Protect Our Care, told the Post.” [AlterNet, 1/24/24]

PoliticoPro: Biden Touts Record Obamacare Numbers Ahead Of Reelection Campaign. “The record-breaking signups during the latest open enrollment mean that 9 million more people have gotten Obamacare coverage since Biden took office in 2021. One of the drivers for the signups are enhanced subsidies passed as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Those premiums though expire after 2025.” [PoliticoPro, 1/24/24]

STATEMENTS

President Joe Biden: “The American people have made it clear: they don’t want the Affordable Care Act weakened and repealed – they want it strengthened and protected. We need to build on the progress we’ve made by making lower premiums permanent.  But Republicans in Congress have a different vision. … If the extreme Republicans in Congress get their way, millions of families would face skyrocketing health care costs or lose their health care altogether. I won’t let it happen on my watch, and I’ll keep fighting to bring down health care and prescription drug costs.” [President Joe Biden Statement, 1/24/24]

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra: “For decades, when it came to federal programs we could depend on to keep Americans covered, three were always top of mind — Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, but now it’s crystal clear that we need to add a fourth — the Affordable Care Act. Once again, a record-breaking number of Americans have signed up for affordable health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace, and now they and their families have the peace of mind that comes with coverage. The ACA continues to be a successful, popular, and important federal program to millions of people and their families.” [HHS Press Release, 1/24/24]

Democratic Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries: “Under the leadership of President Biden, Democrats have delivered on our promise to make health care more affordable and accessible for American families. Today’s announcement means more than 21 million people will have high-quality, affordable health care in 2024, shattering all previous Open Enrollment Period records.” [Rep. Hakeem Jeffries Statement, 1/24/24]

House Energy & Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr.: “While Trump vows to repeal the ACA, a historic 21 MILLION Americans have signed up for health care coverage already this year. That’s no coincidence. Democrats protected the law, lowered monthly premiums, and invested to help people sign up for coverage.” [@EnergyCommerce, 1/24/24]

House Education & Labor Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott: “MAGA Republicans are intent on repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Last Congress, @POTUS and Congressional Democrats strengthened the ACA by passing the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act. We will continue to build on this progress and #ProtectOurCare.” [X, 1/24/24]

Representative Kathy Castor: “We have just hit an all-time high in the number of Americans who have affordable health care coverage because of the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act is keeping people healthy and helping to keep money in their pockets at a time that they need it. Millions of Floridians and millions of Americans have peace of mind that a preexisting condition or medical diagnosis will not bankrupt them.” [Protect Our Care Press Conference, 1/24/24]

Representative Lauren Underwood: “Today is one of my favorite days in Congress because today is a health care day! This is the third straight year of record-breaking enrollment, with more than 23 million Americans signing up for coverage on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. We’ve reached this milestone in part because of my Health Care Affordability Act, which has helped four out of five people find coverage for $10 or less. Congress must build on this progress and make these savings permanent.” [Protect Our Care Press Conference, 1/24/24]

As Trump Calls for ACA Repeal, Record Numbers of Americans Enroll in Affordable Coverage

Watch the Full Event Here.

Washington, DC — Today, Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL-14) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) joined Protect Our Care to discuss the release of the final record-breaking ACA open enrollment numbers from the Department of Health and Human Services. This morning the Biden Administration announced that a record 21.3 million Americans have signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces – over nine million more than when President Biden took office. These numbers are nearly double the number of people enrolled when President Biden took office, including more than 5 million new signups. 

The Inflation Reduction Act’s cost-saving measures helped more Americans enroll in coverage than ever, with 80 percent of enrollees able to find a health plan through the Marketplace for $10 or less per month. However, we must protect this progress. These tax credits are set to expire in 2025 without congressional action.

Donald Trump has also fully reignited his war on health care as record numbers rely on the ACA for affordable coverage. Repealing the ACA means millions of Americans would lose coverage, costs would skyrocket, and people with pre-existing conditions would lose essential protections. 

“We have just hit an all-time high in the number of Americans who have affordable health care coverage because of the Affordable Care Act,” said Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL-14). “The Affordable Care Act is keeping people healthy and helping to keep money in their pockets at a time that they need it. Millions of Floridians and millions of Americans have peace of mind that a preexisting condition or medical diagnosis will not bankrupt them. But former President Trump is threatening to rip affordable coverage away and repeal the ACA if he is elected. He wants to take us backward and take away affordable health plans, so we must rally to prevent him from ever getting back to the White House.”

“Today is one of my favorite days in Congress because today is a health care day!” said Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14). “This is the third straight year of record-breaking enrollment, with more than 23 million Americans signing up for coverage on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. We’ve reached this milestone in part because of my Health Care Affordability Act, which has helped four out of five people find coverage for $10 or less. Congress must build on this progress and make these savings permanent.”

“I was diagnosed with cervical cancer on my 26th birthday,” said Kat Klawes, patient storyteller from Wisconsin. “However, my biggest concern with my diagnosis wasn’t the cancer but how I would be able to afford health care. Thankfully, I was able to register for ACA coverage online. The ACA saved my life and continues to do so by covering preventative care so I know if the cancer ever comes back, but there have been over 50 votes in Congress since 2011 to repeal the ACA. Trump’s repeated statements condemning the ACA and his promises to repeal and replace it, along with GOP policies that have consistently opposed expanding health care access, show the prioritization of political agendas over the well-being of the American people.”

“Democrats have led the charge to make quality, affordable health care a top priority, and as a result, millions more Americans are saving money on premiums and have the care they need to stay healthy,” said Leslie Dach, chair of Protect Our Care. “They continue to fight to lower health care costs for every American and protect those with pre-existing conditions. However, last night Donald Trump all but secured the Republican nomination, putting the ACA at risk once again of repeal and sabotage. It is unconscionable that Trump and his MAGA allies are promising to rip all of this progress away. With a record number of Americans signing up for coverage, it’s clear that Americans want and need the affordable, quality health care made possible through the ACA.”

As Trump Calls for ACA Repeal, Record Numbers of Americans Enroll in Affordable Coverage  

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Biden Administration announced that a record 21.3 million Americans have signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces – over nine million more than when President Biden took office. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act lowering health insurance premiums, 80 percent of enrollees were able to find a health plan through the Marketplace for $10 or less per month. Additional sign-ups are still expected in state-based marketplaces with extended deadlines and HHS will update final enrollment numbers in the coming weeks. 

At the same time, Donald Trump’s victory in New Hampshire last night has laid the path for another Trump run for the presidency, putting the ACA in grave danger once again. In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:

“The Affordable Care Act is now woven into the fabric of America. More than 21 million people are enrolled in quality, affordable health coverage on the ACA exchanges today because of the tireless efforts of President Biden and Democratic lawmakers. Health insurance gives people peace of mind knowing they won’t go bankrupt over an injury or illness, and lower premiums means more money is in the pockets of hardworking families. 

President Biden lowered costs and invested in outreach, helping folks who have historically been left behind, like rural Americans, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities. Importantly, Democrats lowered health insurance premiums through the Inflation Reduction Act, helping millions of people afford their coverage. It’s critical that those tax credits are made permanent. 

Unfortunately, this victory comes as Donald Trump has all but secured the Republican nomination, putting the ACA at risk once again of repeal and sabotage. It is unconscionable that Trump and his MAGA allies are promising to rip all of this progress away. The American people are sending a clear message: they want and need the affordable health care made possible by the ACA.” 

With Trump Marching Toward the GOP Nomination, Health Care is Once Again on the Chopping Block

Washington, D.C. — This evening, Donald Trump secured another victory in the 2024 primary, bringing him one step closer to the GOP nomination. Already, Trump has reignited his calls to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which would hike health care costs, throw millions of Americans off their coverage, and rip away vital protections from millions more. Once again, the issue is front and center leading up to this election. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement: 

“Trump’s victory in New Hampshire shows he is marching toward the GOP nomination, threatening the health and livelihoods of millions of households across the nation. We’re at a crossroads: While President Biden has delivered real relief to the American people by lowering costs and expanding affordable coverage, Trump has vowed to take all of this progress away and throw the health care system into chaos. Trump’s relentless calls for repealing the ACA demonstrate that the issue of health care will be front and center as voters head to the polls in November. Repealing the ACA would rip away protections for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions, hike health care costs for working families, and throw millions of people off their health insurance. At a time when more Americans are enrolling in the ACA than ever before, it is outlandish that the likely GOP nominee is even considering another attempt at repeal. Sadly, the threat to American health care is as real as ever.” 

If the Affordable Care Act is repealed:

• GONE: 2.3 million adult children will no longer be able to stay on their parents’ insurance. 
• GONE: Insurance companies will be able to charge women more than men.
• GONE: Ban on insurance companies having annual and lifetime caps on coverage.
• GONE: Requirements that insurance companies cover prescription drugs and maternity care.
• GONE: Protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions, including 54 million people with a pre-existing condition that would make them completely uninsurable.
• GONE: Medicaid expansion, which covers more than 22 million people. 
• GONE: Quality, affordable coverage that over 15.5 million people who buy insurance on their own.
• GONE: Premium tax credits that make premiums affordable for 80 percent of people who purchase health care on the marketplace.
• GONE: 50 million seniors will have to pay more for prescription drugs because the Medicare ‘donut hole’ will be reopened.
• GONE: Critical funding for rural hospitals. 
• GONE: 61.5 million Medicare beneficiaries will face higher costs and disruptions to their medical care. 

Johnson & Johnson announced it raked in $85.2 billion this past year – a $5.2 billion increase over 2022 revenue – during their earnings report today. While they make billions, Americans pay exorbitantly high prices for prescription drugs. Johnson & Johnson opposes the Biden administration reforms that lower prescription drug prices. 

• During the call, CEO Joaquin Duato bragged about the company’s unexpected revenue boosts and outlook on its pending lawsuits saying, “We have entered 2024 from a position of strength.”
• Johnson & Johnson announced it would spend $2 billion to acquire cancer drugmaker Ambrx Biopharma while seeking to use bankruptcy to get out of injury lawsuits filed by over 52,000 plaintiffs over their talcum baby powders causing cancer.
• Johnson & Johnson is suing the Biden administration to stop Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices for patients because it would endanger their massive profits. In 2023 alone, Johnson & Johnson took in $2.4 billion from sales of its heart disease drug Xarelto and $10.9 billion from Stelara sales. Over 64 percent of Johnson & Johnson’s revenue from Stelara came from sales to U.S. patients. All of the company’s revenue from sales of Xarelto came from U.S. patients.
• Johnson and Johnson charges U.S. customers 3 to 7 times more for Xarleto than customers in other high-income countries. 
• Johnson and Johnson charges U.S. customers 2 to 7 times more for Stelara than customers in other high-income countries. 
• On aggregate, drug companies charge Americans prices up to four times higher than prices in other countries, forcing patients to cut pills and skip doses. 
• Over 80 percent of voters support giving Medicare the power to negotiate, making it the most popular provision in the Inflation Reduction Act. 

The Inflation Reduction Act brings down prescription drug costs for everyday Americans, especially seniors, by capping the price of insulin at $35 per month and providing free vaccines including shingles, giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices, and limiting the amount people have to pay each year for prescription drugs to $2,000 annually starting in 2025.  

Read more:

REPORT: Why Medicare Needs the Power to Negotiate for Lower Drug Costs: the Five Drugs That Tell the Story

FACT SHEET: Big Drug Companies Are in Court to Stop Medicare Negotiation and Protect Their Sky-High Profits

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24 AT 2:00 PM ET // 1:00 PM CT***

21.3 Million Have Enrolled in ACA Plans, According to Biden Administration

Washington, DC — On Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at 2 PM ET // 1:00 PM CT, Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL-14) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) will join Protect Our Care for a press call following the release of the final ACA open enrollment numbers from HHS. A record-breaking 21.3 million people across the nation have signed up for ACA coverage, according to a new report from HHS. These numbers are nearly double the number of people enrolled when President Biden took office and include more than 5 million new signups. 

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act’s reduction of health insurance premium costs, 80 percent of enrollees were able to find a health plan through the Marketplace for $10 or less per month. Representative Underwood is fighting to make these cost savings permanent by championing the Health Care Affordability Act. 

As record numbers are relying on the ACA for affordable coverage, Donald Trump has fully reignited his war on health care. Repealing the ACA means millions of Americans would lose coverage, costs would skyrocket, and people with pre-existing conditions would lose essential protections. 

PRESS CALL:

WHO:
U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL-14)
U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14)
Kat Klawes, patient storyteller from Wisconsin
Leslie Dach, Chair of Protect Our Care

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference 

WHERE: Register for the Event Here.

WHEN: Wednesday, January 24 at 2:00 PM ET // 1:00 PM CT

January 23 is Maternal Health Awareness Day

Washington, D.C. — Today marks Maternal Health Awareness Day, an important reminder that the U.S. is facing a worsening maternal health crisis. This crisis is compounded by Republicans’ decades-long attacks on reproductive health and abortion care culminating in the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Pregnancy-related deaths have worsened over the last three decades, and Black and Native women are two to three times more likely than white women to die of pregnancy-related causes. Rates of maternal deaths are increasing most quickly for Hispanic women. Access to care is increasingly more difficult as one-third of U.S. counties are considered maternity care deserts. Complications related to pregnancy led to over 700 deaths in 2022, many of them preventable.

While Democrats have worked tirelessly to improve the health of mothers and their families, Republicans have rejected expanding affordable health care at every turn and instead fight to repeal advancements made. Despite these setbacks, the Biden-Harris administration is dedicated to expanding and protecting maternal health care. The White House released the Biden-Harris Administration’s Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, a government-wide strategy to cut the rates of maternal mortality and morbidity and reduce disparities among maternal health outcomes. In addition, the Administration has worked to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage from 13 states in 2021 to 46 states and the District of Columbia that presently offer or plan to offer the coverage.

In response, Protect Our Care Director of Policy Programs Andrea Harris issued the following statement: 

“This Maternal Health Awareness Day we recognize the progress made by the Biden-Harris administration while also assessing the work that needs to be done. By working to eliminate Medicaid coverage gaps, diversifying the perinatal workforce, and strengthening social and economic supports for pregnant women and new parents, the Biden-Harris administration is saving lives and addressing the unacceptable inequities in maternal health outcomes. Meanwhile, Republicans have undermined access to contraception and preventive services and are fighting legislation to drive down health care costs and expand affordable care. With the federal right to a safe and legal abortion stripped, enacting strong measures to protect maternal health is more vital than ever.”

Background:

Biden-Harris Administration Has Expanded Medicaid Coverage Through 1 Year Postpartum. The Biden-Harris Administration, with Democrats in Congress, offered states incentives to expand Medicaid coverage for a full year postpartum first on a temporary basis through the American Rescue Plan and then permanently in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022. President Biden is so committed to ensuring new mothers have the health care they need that he has proposed in his Budget to make 12 months of postpartum coverage mandatory for all Medicaid programs. The Biden-Harris administration announced that as of March 2023, an estimated 462,000 Americans have access to 12 months of postpartum coverage. 46 states and the District of Columbia have expanded or have made plans to expand Medicaid coverage to cover a full 12 months postpartum. Four states – Wisconsin, Arkansas, Iowa, and Idaho – have not made plans to expand postpartum Medicaid. 

HHS Awarded More Than $103 Million For A New Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force And A National Public Education Campaign On Postpartum Depression. This past fall, the Biden-Harris Administration announced new actions and funding to fight the maternal health crisis. More than $103 million has been awarded to create a maternal mental health and coexisting substance use disorder task force to improve federal data collection and health equity, and implement best practices for prevention, screening, diagnosis, intervention, treatment, community practices, communication, and community engagement. The focus of the task force will be to ensure mental health equity and promote trauma-informed practices. The funding is also going towards a national public education campaign, called Talking Postpartum Depression, which will increase awareness of postpartum depression symptoms, share reliable resources, and demonstrate the many ways to access care. 

• HHS Awarded Nearly $90 Million To Expand Maternal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Programs. The HRSA programs that have been awarded additional funding from HHS focus on expanding and diversifying the perinatal workforce, increasing access to maternal health services in underserved and rural communities, investing in maternal mental health research, and supporting patients and families postpartum by training additional OB/GYNs, midwives, and maternal health care providers.

CMS Launched ‘Birthing Friendly’ Designation On Comparing Care Tool. The Biden-Harris Administration and CMS launched the ‘birthing friendly’ designation on CMS’s online Care Compare tool. This designation allows patients to search for a hospital that participates in a perinatal quality improvement collaborative program and that implements evidence-based care to improve maternal health. More than 24 health plans agreed to use this designation on their consumer-facing websites, reaching more than 150 million people.

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR MONDAY, JAN. 22 AT 9:30 AM PT // 12:30 PM ET***

Rep. Levin’s Health Insurance Premium Fairness Act would close loophole to save aging couples thousands of dollars. 

Legislation is latest effort to expand affordable health coverage.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, January 22 at 9:30 AM PT // 12:30 PM ET, Congressman Mike Levin (CA-49) will join Protect Our Care California and health care advocate Ted DeBont to discuss their latest efforts to make health care premiums more affordable. This week, Rep. Levin and Rep. Linda Sanchez introduced the Health Insurance Premium Fairness Act, which closes a loophole in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credit that penalizes households where one member ages into Medicare. The bill would adjust the ACA premium tax credit formula to account for any Medicare premiums paid by the household, saving dually enrolled American households thousands of dollars per year on healthcare premium costs and bills.

The Health Insurance Premium Fairness Act is the latest effort by Rep. Levin and Congressional Democrats to make health care more affordable for consumers. Thanks to the new measures in the Inflation Reduction Act, signed by President Biden, 80 percent of Californians can find coverage for $10 or less per month on the ACA marketplace. California residents can apply for coverage on Covered California, the state’s ACA marketplace, through the open enrollment period ending January 31. With Donald Trump and other Republican leaders promising to repeal the ACA, there has never been a more urgent time to make sure Californians can secure the best coverage for them. 

PRESS CALL

WHO:
Rep. Mike Levin
Ted and Carla DeBont, health care advocates
Matthew Herdman, Protect Our Care California state lead

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

WHEN: Monday, January 22, 2024 at 9:30 AM PT // 12:30 PM ET

WHERE: Register for the Zoom here

Fifty-one years ago, the Supreme Court affirmed that the Constitution grants bodily autonomy and protects the right to reproductive health care as part of their decision in Roe v. Wade. However, Donald Trump’s ultra-conservative Supreme Court overturned this long-standing precedent in June 2022, leaving regulation of reproductive health care to the states. Now, MAGA Republicans are fighting for a national abortion ban, affirming that the fight for safe and reliable reproductive health care is far from over.

Two cases are being considered now that could further disrupt access to reproductive health care, including abortion, across the nation. Both cases are backed by the same conservative activists who oppose abortion rights, women’s health, LGBTQI+ rights, and affordable health care. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA threatens to revoke access to Mifepristone, which is used for medication abortions, while also compromising the entire FDA drug approval system that ensures access to safe, lifesaving medications. Braidwood v. Becerra seeks to eliminate access to free preventive care under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — a benefit relied on by more than 150 million Americans. If this case succeeds, access to free contraception and pregnancy-related care could be eliminated.

Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA 

Judge Matthew Kacysmaryk, a federal judge in Texas, revoked authorization for Mifepristone, a safe and effective medication essential for abortion access that was approved by the FDA more than 20 years ago. The ruling in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration puts at risk not only the use of mifepristone for safe and legal medication abortions for millions of women, but it opens the door for the politically-motivated removal of other safe and effective drugs from the market — throwing the entire U.S. drug approval process into chaos.

Experts fear that a wide range of approved medicines could be targeted, including contraceptives, or any class of medicines that may be politically unpopular. Kacsmaryk was the first federal judge to endorse an attack on the right to contraception after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.

The Supreme Court will schedule its upcoming term which includes Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA.

Anti-abortion advocates, represented by a far-right legal organization, brought suit before this specific judge in Amarillo, Texas, with the sweeping aim of achieving a nationwide ban and the ability to go after contraceptives next.

Read Protect Our Care’s report on Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA.

Braidwood v. Becerra

In March 2023, radical District Judge Reed O’Connor struck down a provision of the ACA that requires insurers to cover lifesaving preventive services without cost-sharing — protection relied on by 150 million Americans. Over two-thirds of the Affordable Care Act’s preventive care for women, infants, and children would be eliminated, including prenatal care and contraception coverage.

The ruling puts millions at the mercy of insurance companies and employers, who could eliminate the benefits entirely or start charging for them, increasing patient costs and creating major obstacles to care.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has tentatively scheduled oral arguments in this case for the week of March 4, 2024.

This lawsuit is being driven by extremist, longtime foes of the ACA and objections by employers to mandates that they cover services like contraception.

Watch Protect Our Care’s event with the American Lung Association, the American Public Health Association, and legal expert Andrew Pincus on Braidwood v. Becerra.

Read Protect Our Care’s report The MAGA Republican War on Health Care for more details on both cases.