News

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.

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES
Contact: Vincent DeMarco: 410-591-9162 

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 18 AT 11 AM ET***

Campaign is Supported by New Report Detailing How Big Drug Companies Spend More on Stock Buybacks, Dividends, Executive Compensation, and Advertising than Drug Research

Annapolis, MD — Legislative sponsors and advocates will hold a January 18th press conference to kick off the campaign to pass major legislation in 2024 to expand the authority of the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board and continue the work of bringing down high costs for medications. 

The press conference will also highlight key findings in a new report from Public Citizen and Protect Our Care detailing how big drug companies are spending far more on self-enrichment, such as stock buybacks, dividends, executive compensation and advertising than on investments in new prescription drugs. 

The Prescription Drug Affordability Board, created in 2019 as the first of its kind in the country, has worked tirelessly to determine how to bring down the high costs of drugs. The General Assembly charged the Board with developing strategies to aid local and state governments in reducing the cost of providing prescriptions to their employees, a recognition of just how much governments must pay for drug coverage for their employees.

The Board will soon take a major step and announce upper payment limits for certain expensive drugs – which will help bring down drug costs for governments and save taxpayer dollars. Legislation to be introduced in the General Assembly would expand the Board’s authority to develop similar upper payment limits for high-cost drugs for all Marylanders. 

The new report from Public Citizen and Protect Our Care details how big drug companies are more focused on enriching their shareholders and executives than innovation and undercuts the drug industry’s arguments against expanding the PDAB’s authority. The report examined big drug manufacturers’ expenditures and found that they spend far more on dividends, stock buybacks, executive compensation, and advertising than they invest in research.

PRESS EVENT:

WHO:
Delegate Bonnie Cullison, Vice Chair, House Health and Government Operations Committee
Senator Dawn Gile
Senator Brian Feldman, Chair, Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee Delegate Jennifer White Holland
Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins, Chair, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland
Peter Maybarduk, Public Citizen
Vincent DeMarco, President, Maryland Health Care For All! Coalition 

WHAT: Press conference to launch legislation to expand authority of the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board – and to highlight a new report detailing the drug industry’s troubling spending patterns 

WHERE: Media Room, Miller Senate Office Building, 11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401. The press conference will be live-streamed on https://www.facebook.com/mdhealthcareforall.

WHEN: Thursday, January 18, 2024, 11 AM ET

Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, a record 20 million Americans have signed up for health insurance through the ACA marketplaces – nearly double the number of people enrolled when he took office. With just under one week left in the 2024 open enrollment period for most states, 80 percent of people can still find a health plan through the Marketplace for $10 or less per month thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act lowering health insurance premium costs. The Biden administration has done everything in its power to lower costs and get the word out about affordable coverage, with historic investments in outreach to rural Americans, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities – in stark contrast to the Trump administration which sabotaged open enrollment at every turn. But don’t just take our word for it:

(AZ) Cronkite News: Record Numbers Sign Up for Obamacare Health Coverage in Arizona, U.S. “A record number of Arizonans signed up for health insurance this year under the Affordable Care Act, as enrollment in the program continues to rebound from the Trump administration’s efforts to suppress coverage. The 235,229 Arizonans who signed up in the enrollment period that ended Jan. 15 were part of 16.3 million people nationwide who got coverage from the “Obamacare” marketplace, also a record for covered individuals. Advocates credited the increase to aggressive efforts by the Biden administration that included a longer enrollment period and an extension of financial support for the federally subsidized health care that they say allows some low-income clients get coverage for as little as $10 a month.” [Cronkite News, 1/11/24]

(AZ) KJZZ: Record Number Of Arizonans Enroll In Affordable Care Act Marketplace Health Plans. “In Arizona, it’s also a record. More than 325,000 Arizonans have picked a plan on Healthcare.gov – a nearly 40% jump since last year. This year’s high participation comes after about 14 million people nationwide were disenrolled from Medicaid programs, as pandemic-era protections for that coverage expired in 2023. In Arizona, about 436,000 people have lost Medicaid coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The deadline for open enrollment through healthcare.gov is Jan.16.” [KJZZ, 1/11/24]

(FL) Florida Politics: Diagnosis for 1.10.24: Checking the Pulse of Florida Health Care News and Policy. “Florida is once again leading the nation in the number of people relying on Obamacare for health insurance as more than 4 million residents have signed up according to the latest numbers released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. More than 20 million Americans are relying on health coverage either through Healthcare.gov or state-created marketplaces — a record according to federal officials. Florida’s overall numbers have jumped from 3.2 million in 2023 to 4.03 million this year, CMS reported Wednesday. The numbers could still climb even higher as the enrollment deadline for the year is next week.” [Florida Politics, 1/10/24]

(GA) Atlanta Journal-Constitution: More Than 1 Million Georgians Sign Up For ACA Health Plans, A Big Record. “More than 1.2 million Georgians have signed up for health insurance plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplace, breaking all previous records and adding several hundred thousand to the state’s rolls of those with private insurance. […] This year, Georgia’s record sign-ups rose nearly 40% from last year, well over the nation’s average increase of 25%, said Krutika Amin, associate director of the Program on the ACA at the health research organization KFF. And the number of new sign-ups this year, an additional 350,000 over 2023, was the third biggest number in the country, behind only Texas and Florida.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/11/24]

(KY) BollyInside: Open Enrollment for Federally Subsidized Health Insurance Ends Jan 16; Kentucky Enrollment Surpasses Last Year’s Numbers. “Most Kentuckians are eligible for tax credits that can make premiums less than $10 a month, and many are eligible for $0 monthly premiums. As of Jan. 4, 71,414 Kentuckians have signed up for health insurance through Kynect, 8,852 more than last year.” [BollyInside, 1/07/24]

(MI) WXYZ: Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Extended Due to MLK Holiday. “More than 394,000 Michiganders have enrolled so far for 2024 open enrollment, an increase of almost 25% over this time last year. For 2023, more than 85% of enrollees qualified for savings, with many consumers able to get health insurance for less than $10 per month,” DIFS said.” [WXYZ, 1/11/24]

(NC) WNCN: Record Enrollment In Affordable Care Act Plans Highlighted In Raleigh. “The Biden administration announced record enrollment Wednesday in health plans offered under the Affordable Care Act’s insurance marketplace, highlighting the work in North Carolina to sign people up for those plans. So far, more than 20 million people have enrolled, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, eclipsing the 2023 total of 16.6 million. In N.C., nearly a million people have enrolled.” [WNCN, 1/10/24]

(NC) WRAL News: Cooper, Medicaid Leader Push Insurance Enrollment As North Carolina Medicaid Expansion Also Grows. “Brooks-LaSure also said Wednesday that some 20 million people nationwide — a record — have selected a plan so far on online insurance marketplaces since open enrollment started Nov. 1. CMS said in a statement that North Carolina has seen more than 996,000 plan selections during the enrollment period, which largely ends next Tuesday. […] Cooper, who is barred by term limits from seeking reelection this year, suggested that Medicaid expansion and other Affordable Care Act benefits could be threatened should some Republicans win in November. He pointed to Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is now running for governor and has said he didn’t support expansion legislation, and to former President Donald Trump, who said recently that he was ‘seriously looking at alternatives’ to the ACA should he win a second term.” [WRAL News, 1/10/24]

(NC) WRAL News: National Medicaid Leader Joins NC Gov. Cooper To Celebrate Affordable Care Act, Medicaid Expansion. “One of the nation’s top Medicaid leaders was in Raleigh on Wednesday to celebrate a big milestone in health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act, sometimes called Obamacare. … As of Jan. 10, there are 996,250 people in North Carolina covered through the federal ACA marketplace, found at healthcare.gov. ‘Think about how complicated health insurance can be,’ Cooper, a Democrat, said. ‘For people who really haven’t even had the opportunity much to deal with health insurance, having a navigator who can help explain it to them in everyday language is critical.’” [WRAL News, 1/10/24]

(TX) ReformAustin: Texas No. 2 During Record-Breaking Obamacare Enrollment. “For the third straight year, enrollees in the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) have broken records. Texas is, by far, the state with the most customers, new and returning. On the CMS website, the enrollment is broken down by state. The state with the most enrollees during the 2024 open enrollment period is Florida with 4,034,546. Next is Texas with 3,291,543. From there, it’s a long way to third place, California, with 1,733,137. […] Florida and Texas would likely have even higher numbers if either state had accepted the ACA Medicaid expansion.” [ReformAustin, 1/11/24]

(WI) Wisconsin Examiner: Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Enrollment Reaches New Record In Wisconsin. “Through Dec. 23, 254,482 Wisconsin residents have signed up for insurance coverage on the HealthCare.gov portal during the current open enrollment period, the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported. The portal, also known as the health care exchange, was established under the ACA and offers health plans that individuals or families can purchase. That exceeds the previous record, set in 2017, when more than 242,000 people signed up for coverage, according to the office of Gov. Tony Evers.” [Wisconsin Examiner, 1/11/24]

(WI) Channel 3000: Wisconsin Sees Record Health Insurance Enrollment Through Individual Marketplace. “More Wisconsinites signed up for health insurance through the federal HealthCare.gov marketplace during the most recent enrollment period than ever before, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Wednesday. As of Dec. 23, 2023, over 254,000 had signed up for insurance using the marketplace. That soars well above the state’s previous record of 242,863, which was set during the 2017 open enrollment period. ‘Every Wisconsinite should have access to quality, affordable healthcare,” Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement.” [Channel 3000, 1/10/24]

(WI) WKBT: Evers: Wisconsinites Sign Up In Record Numbers For Health Insurance On Individual Marketplace. “Residents in Wisconsin signed up in record numbers for health insurance on the federal marketplace. According to a release from Gov. Tony Evers’ office, as of Dec. 23, 254,482 signed up for plans through the individual marketplace made available in the Affordable Care Act, more commonly referred to as ‘Obamacare’.This is the highest enrollment number in the state since the ACA’s implementation, according to the release. The data come from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Gov. Evers attributes the increase in enrollment to subsidies provided by federal legislation including the American Rescue Plan Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. Open enrollment for the year continues through Jan. 16.” [News8Now, 1/10/24]

(WI) WEAU 13 News: Gov. Evers Announces Wisconsin Reaches Highest Enrollment Ever On HealthCare.gov. “Gov. Tony Evers today announced that, according to new enrollment data released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as of Dec. 23, 2023, 254,482 Wisconsinites have signed up for health insurance on the individual marketplace. This marks the highest enrollment Wisconsin has ever reached. … ‘By getting insured, you are investing in your health and the health of those around you,’ said Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) Commissioner Nathan Houdek.” [WEAU 13 News, 1/10/24]

Read the New Report Here. 

Watch the Full Event Here.

Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined Protect Our Care and Young Invincibles to discuss how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is benefiting young people across the nation by providing access to more affordable health coverage. During the call, speakers discussed how the ACA is working to benefit young Americans, and how President Biden and Democrats in Congress are protecting and expanding these benefits. Right now, four out of five ACA enrollees can find coverage for $10 or less per month. Open enrollment is set to close on January 16, with some exceptions for state-run marketplaces. 

According to the report, the ACA has lowered costs and made coverage more available to young people through policies including Medicaid expansion, affordable Marketplace coverage, and the requirement that insurers must allow people up to age 26 to stay on their parent’s health plan. This has expanded young people’s access to essential services like mental health care. In 2023, enrollment in the ACA Marketplaces reached an all-time high, with 15.7 million Americans receiving coverage. More than one in four, or 4.1 million of those enrolled in Marketplace coverage were between the ages of 18 and 34.

“Over a decade ago, when we passed the Affordable Care Act, I was proud to champion the provision that for the first time allowed young people to stay on their parent’s insurance until 26 and fight for Americans who were previously locked out of insurance because of pre-existing conditions,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). “There’s more work to do, but as we enter another record-breaking year for enrollment in the Affordable Care Act marketplaces, we’re reminded of the difference this historic step forward is making for millions of Americans, including young people who are benefitting every day from accessible mental health, reproductive, and primary care. Our work is making a difference.”

“Medicaid expansion, the ability to stay on their parents’ coverage until age 26, and the creation of the ACA marketplaces have all provided more opportunities for young people to enroll in coverage,”  said Mina Schultz, Health Policy and Advocacy Manager at Young Invincibles. “The financial help available to lower the monthly cost of coverage has put coverage within reach for millions. And importantly, with half of young adults living with a mental health condition, mental health care has never been more accessible. Thus far, in the 11th annual ACA marketplace open enrollment period, there has been a record number of 20 million people enrolled in coverage. This report is important, now more than ever, to lift up the experiences of young people in the health care system as we work ever more towards equitable, accessible, and affordable health care for all.” 

“The Affordable Care Act has been revolutionary for young people, ” said Alex Soltany, advocate. “For young adults, this access to health coverage is essential and can be life or death. We never think we’re going to need coverage but that’s why having health insurance coverage is so important. A couple of years ago, a close friend of mine unexpectedly suffered a broken collarbone while playing sports. In college, he was covered under his university student health plan but upon graduation, he lost that coverage. He didn’t qualify for employer-sponsored insurance and went looking for insurance on his own. His decision to purchase health insurance through the ACA marketplace saved him from thousands of dollars in medical debt he would have incurred from ambulance, hospital, and surgical fees. If he had been uninsured, he would have been unable to afford his monthly rent.”

“My 15-year-old brother and I are fortunate to have never known a time in which we’ve had to worry about covering our health care costs, thanks to the trailblazing efforts of Senator Baldwin and President Obama,” said Chandra Chouhan, advocate. “We must realize one very important thing – the Affordable Care Act is about more than coverage. It’s about preserving the health and well-being of all Americans so we can pursue our shared freedoms and dreams. When I hear about Donald Trump and Wisconsin Republicans threatening to terminate the ACA without any regard for the tens of millions of Americans who depend on it, I feel scared to witness such a blatant disregard for human life. We must take action to reelect leaders like Senator Baldwin, who are committed to preserving and expanding the ACA.”

“The Affordable Care Act has been a game-changer for young people across the nation, and the impact of the health care law only continues to grow as President Biden and Democrats work to drive down costs,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “Our report finds that millions of young people have health insurance because of the ACA, which has helped more people receive critical services like mental health and addiction treatment, cancer screenings, and prenatal care. But the ACA is under relentless attack from Republicans and in the courts. Donald Trump has promised repeatedly that if he’s elected, he will eliminate the Affordable Care Act. So not only must we celebrate the accomplishments of the Affordable Care Act, but we must remain ever vigilant in protecting it from its enemies as more Americans rely on it. ”

Thanks to Joe Biden’s leadership, a record 20 million Americans have signed up for health insurance through ACA marketplaces – nearly double the number of people enrolled when President Biden took office. There’s just under one week left in the 2024 open enrollment period for families to sign up for affordable health care at HealthCare.gov. Thanks in large part to the Inflation Reduction Act’s reduction of health insurance premium costs, eighty percent of people can still find a health plan through the Marketplace for $10 or less per month. The Biden administration has done everything in its power to lower costs and get the word out about affordable coverage, with historic investments in outreach to rural Americans, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities which is in stark contrast to the Trump Administration which sabotaged open enrollment at every turn.

FEATURED:

President Biden: “Folks, I have two big announcements. A record-breaking 20 million Americans have enrolled in health care coverage through the ACA. And you have until January 16 join them and get covered this season at http://HealthCare.gov.” [X, @POTUS, 1/10/24]

Secretary Xavier Becerra: “Obamacare continues to break records! This year, over 20M people selected an ACA Marketplace plan – more than ever before! @POTUS promised to strengthen and build on the Affordable Care Act, and these numbers show we are delivering results for the American people.“ [X, @SecBecerra, 1/10/24]

House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05): “NEWS: 20 million Americans have health care thanks to the Affordable Care Act! Democrats are proud to celebrate this historic milestone as we continue our work to ensure every American can find and afford care.” [X, WhipKClark, 1/10/24]

House Ways & Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal (MA-01): “A record 20 MILLION Americans enrolled in health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Thank you, @POTUS. Thank you, @BarackObama.” [X, @RepRichardNeal, 1/10/24]

House Education & Labor Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03): “20 million people have access to health care thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Democrats will continue to protect the ACA and build on its successes.” [X, @BobbyScott, 1/10/24]

Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14): “With days to go before the January 15th deadline, we are on track for another year of record breaking enrollment. Visit http://healthcare.gov to get covered before Monday!” [X, @RepUnderwood, 1/10/24]

HEADLINES:

The New York Times: More Than 20 Million People Have Signed Up For Obamacare Plans, Blowing By Record. “More than 20 million people have signed up for plans on the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces during the annual open enrollment period, far surpassing last year’s record of more than 16 million enrollments, the Biden administration announced on Wednesday. The figures were a landmark moment for the 2010 health law, underscoring the significance of enhanced subsidies for Americans and the continuing reach of the marketplaces after years of Republican efforts to whittle them down. […] The enrollees include people like Kennita Hickman, 39, who has several autoimmune disorders and was on the verge of losing her Medicaid coverage late last year because her income was too high to qualify for the government program. She found a lifeline in a free Obamacare plan, which has allowed her access to doctors and a therapist. ‘I have three health conditions that I have to manage,’ said Ms. Hickman, who owns a media company in Milwaukee. ‘Being without insurance is always scary.’” [The New York Times, 1/10/24]

The Hill: ObamaCare Enrollment Breaks Record For Third Consecutive Year. “Health insurance enrollment through the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) insurance marketplace has reached a record for the third consecutive year, according to the latest update from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The CMS said in a statement Wednesday that enrollment for 2024 ACA plans had broken 20 million so far, with just less than a week left for people to sign up for plans. This exceeds 2023’s enrollment — 16.3 million — by roughly 4 million people. ‘Today, we hit a major milestone in lowering costs and ensuring all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care: a record-breaking 20 million Americans have enrolled in health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces,’ President Biden said Wednesday. ‘With six days left to still get covered, 8 million more Americans have signed up for ACA coverage than when I took office.’” [The Hill, 1/10/24]

Reuters: US Sets Enrollment Record For Obamacare Plans. “More than 20 million Americans have so far signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) marketplace for this year, the highest since the inception of the law, according to data released on Wednesday. Over 3.7 million people who have signed up for the 2024 plans are new enrollees, data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) showed. ‘Today is a momentous day. A record number of people in the United States have health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace — more than at any point in history,’ said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. The latest data represents enrollment through December 23 for the 32 states using HealthCare.gov and for the 18 states and the District of Columbia with State-based Marketplaces, the HHS said. The law, also known as Obamacare, was former U.S. President Barack Obama’s signature piece of domestic legislation. The Biden-Harris Administration had projected late last year that over 19 million people will enroll in 2024 through the ACA marketplace. People who want to choose a healthcare plan for 2024 under the ACA can enroll before the deadline of Jan. 16, 2024.” [Reuters, 1/10/24]

MSNBC: Affordable Care Act Breaks Enrollment Record. “When you can say that there are 20 million Americans today who have peace of mind because they have their own health insurance coverage, that’s a success. ​​And I’d say that the Affordable Care Act has proven that millions of Americans want that peace of mind…Because Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and now the ACA marketplaces, are giving Americans that peace of mind they need so that [if] they have to take their son or daughter to the hospital, they won’t go bankrupt.” [MSNBC, 1/10/24, VIDEO] 

Seeking Alpha: Obamacare Enrollments Exceed 20M, A Record High. “The Biden administration announced Wednesday that more than 20M Americans have signed up for Obamacare plans in health insurance exchanges for the 2024 enrollment period, the highest since the Affordable Care Act became law 14 years ago. As of Dec. 23, more than 20.3M Americans had signed up for health plans since the 2024 marketplace open enrollment period launched on Nov. 1, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said. That indicates a 25% growth from the previous record, when ACA marketplaces added more than 16.3M people for the 2023 enrollment period, marking a 12% rise from a year ago. 3.7M, or 18% of total enrollments, were new to the exchanges, and the rest already had 2023 coverage and chose exchanges to select a new plan or were automatically added. ‘Today is a momentous day. A record number of people in the United States have health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace — more than at any point in history,’ HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said.” [Seeking Alpha, 1/10/24]

The Union Journal: More Than 20 Million People Have Signed Up for Obamacare Plans, Blowing by Record. “The Biden administration announced on Wednesday that more than 20 million individuals have enlisted in the Affordable Care Act marketplaces during the annual enrollment period, a substantial increase from the previous record of over 16 million enrollments last year. This momentous occasion highlights the importance of the 2010 health legislation, the persisting influence of the marketplaces in spite of Republican attempts to diminish them, and the importance of enhanced subsidies for American citizens. Adrianna McIntyre, a health policy specialist at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, pointed out that ‘The marketplaces are becoming increasingly ingrained in the infrastructure of U.S. healthcare. The expansion of the marketplaces contributes to their stability.’ The administration shared that almost 750,000 individuals enlisted in a marketplace plan on HealthCare.gov on Dec. 15, the deadline for coverage starting Jan. 1. This figure marked the largest single-day total. As the deadline to enroll in the plans is 5 a.m. Eastern on Jan. 17, this allows Americans to acquire coverage beginning the following month and the total count is expected to rise.” [The Union Journal, 1/10/24]

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 11 AT 12:00 PM ET***

The Report Comes During the Last Days of the Open Enrollment Period, Which Is Set to Close on January 16

Washington, DC — On Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 12:00 PM ET, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) will join Protect Our Care and Young Invincibles to discuss how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is benefiting young people across the nation by providing access to more affordable health coverage. During the call, speakers will discuss how the ACA is working to benefit young Americans, and how President Biden and Democrats in Congress are protecting and expanding these benefits. Right now, four out of five ACA enrollees can find coverage for $10 or less per month. 

According to the report, the ACA has lowered costs and made coverage more available to young people through policies including: Medicaid expansion, affordable Marketplace coverage, and the requirement that insurers must allow people up to age 26 to stay on their parents’ health plan. This has expanded young people’s access to essential services like mental health care. In 2023, enrollment in the ACA Marketplaces reached an all-time high, with 15.7 million Americans receiving coverage. More than one in four, or 4.1 million of those enrolled in Marketplace coverage were between the ages of 18 and 34.

PRESS CALL:

WHO:
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Mina Schultz, Young Invincibles
Alex Soltany, advocate
Chandra Chouhan, advocate
Leslie Dach, Chair of Protect Our Care

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference 

WHERE: Register for the Event Here

WHEN: Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 12:00 PM ET

More Americans Are Covered Than Ever Before Thanks to Lower Health Care Premiums as Trump Doubles Down on Vows to Repeal the ACA

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that a record 20 million Americans have signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces – nearly double the number of people enrolled when President Biden took office. The Biden administration has done everything in its power to lower costs and get the word out about affordable coverage, with historic investments in outreach to rural Americans, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act’s reduction of health insurance premium costs, eighty percent of people can still find a health plan through the Marketplace for $10 or less per month. The 2024 open enrollment period ends on January 16, so families have time to find an affordable plan at HealthCare.gov. In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:

“President Biden made 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. Having health insurance means you can see a doctor without sacrificing other necessities like food and rent. Americans want and need the affordable, quality health care made possible through the ACA. However, Donald Trump and his Republican allies have only doubled down on their threats to repeal the ACA and revoke the savings made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act. Republicans are determined to rip away affordable care, gut protections for pre-existing conditions, and increase costs – all at the expense of the American people. These record numbers are a big deal, once again proving the steps taken by the Biden Administration to lower costs are working across the nation.”

2024 will be a pivotal year for health care in America. Several legal battles are underway now that threaten to disrupt access to prescription drugs, rip away lifesaving preventive care, and raise health care costs for millions of seniors and families across the nation. Protect Our Care is following three key legal battles in the courts now:

Threats to Preventive Care – 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 — a protection relied on by 150 million Americans. 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.. Watch our event with the American Lung Association, the American Public Health Association, and legal expert Andrew Pincus.
What’s next? The Fifth Circuit of Appeals will hear oral arguments in this case at the beginning of March

Threats to Mifepristone and FDA Approval – Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA
A decision to ban mifepristone would threaten millions of women’s access to safe and legal abortions and open the door for the politically motivated destruction of the FDA’s entire drug approval process. The Supreme Court will hear this case this term. You can read our report on the case and watch our event with a former FDA official and legal and public health experts.
What’s next? The Supreme Court will schedule its upcoming term which includes this case.

Threats to Lower Drug Costs for Seniors – Inflation Reduction Act Challenges
Nine cases are working their way through the court now seeking to overturn the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program in the Inflation Reduction Act. This month, oral arguments will be held in AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP v. Becerra et al., which threatens to rip away billions of dollars in savings from seniors and taxpayers in order to protect drug company profits. Read our fact sheet on all of the cases.
What’s next? On January 31, oral arguments will be heard in AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP v. Becerra et al. 

Many of these cases are backed by the same people who oppose abortion rights, women’s health, LGBTQI+ rights, and affordable health care. All of this is part of Republicans’ endless war on health care. When Republican lawmakers don’t get their way in the halls of Congress or the states, they, corporate interests, and their network of lawyers and dark money groups turn to their allies in the courts. Read more about the GOP war on health care here.

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES
Contact: Misha Linnehan: 202-839-7782 

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR WEDNESDAY JANUARY 3, 2024 AT 10:30 AM ET***

Casey-backed Inflation Reduction Act gave Medicare power to negotiate drug prices for the first time

In August 2023, Biden Admin announced first round of prescriptions drugs to be negotiated by Medicare

In November 2023, Senate Finance Committee sent legislative package, including bipartisan Casey-led provisions protecting seniors from high drug costs, to Senate floor for vote

Reading, PA – Wednesday, January 3, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) will join health care advocates and community leaders to highlight how the Inflation Reduction Act’s historic provisions allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices for the first time and cap the cost of insulin for Part D patients at $35 a month are protecting Pennsylvanians from unfair Rx prices and lowering costs for seniors. A media availability will follow the speaking program.

WHO:
U.S. Senator Bob Casey
Michael Toledo, Executive Director, Centro Hispano
Michael Berman, Pennsylvania State Director for Protect Our Care

WHEN: Wednesday, January 3, 2023 beginning at 10:30 AM ET 

WHERE: Address provided upon RSVP 

*Must RSVP to [email protected]*

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2024 is bringing another round of health care savings for millions of families across the nation. Yesterday, a new provision of the Inflation Reduction Act took effect: a total spending cap on prescription drug costs for millions of seniors. This year, seniors will see new limits on out-of-pocket spending for their prescriptions, and next year they will pay no more than $2,000 on drugs across the board. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, this particularly helps seniors with serious conditions like cancer and Multiple Sclerosis. Seniors will also continue to save on insulin and vaccines as the Biden administration continues to implement the Inflation Reduction Act. Here are some key ways Americans will save on their health care in 2024:

President Biden and Democrats in Congress have made lowering health care costs a top priority, and they have delivered on their promise. By passing the Inflation Reduction Act, Democrats extended premium tax credits on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, capped insulin costs for seniors at $35 per month, made shingles and other essential vaccines free, and protected people on Medicare from outrageous price hikes. Together, these provisions are already saving families thousands of dollars on their health care costs. President Biden has also begun implementing the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation program, which will lower costs on some of the costliest medications on the market. 

Democrats are only building on this momentum to get Americans the health care they deserve. The Biden administration announced that a record 15.3 million Americans have already signed up for 2024 health coverage through the ACA marketplaces, and millions more are expected to enroll in coverage before the January 15 deadline. 

This all comes as Donald Trump has renewed calls to “terminate” the ACA, doubling down on his threats against American health care as recently as Christmas Day. Once again, the likely Republican nominee is running on ACA repeal — even as the health care law is more popular and covers more people than ever before. Republicans have also vowed to repeal all of the Inflation Reduction Act’s health care savings for seniors. Read more on Republicans’ threats to health care here.