News

Yesterday, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that two million Americans have signed up for insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces during President Biden’s special enrollment period. The Biden administration opened the SEP to ensure people could get coverage as they faced economic hardship and job loss as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Importantly, many of the new enrollees have been able to take advantage of the dramatic savings under the American Rescue Plan, with more than a third of new and returning enrollees selecting plans for $10 or less per month. Coverage of this historic enrollment period makes it clear that the wave of signups are a direct result of the American Rescue Plan’s provisions to dramatically reduce premiums costs. 

HEADLINES:

The Hill: More Than 2 Million Sign Up During Obamacare Special Enrollment Period. “A total of 1.5 million Americans have enrolled in coverage through HealthCare.gov throughout the special signup period, while another 600,000 have signed up through the 15 state-based marketplaces, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced.” [7/14/21]

New York Times: Obamacare Enrollments Have Risen By 2 Million, Reaching A Record High, Since Biden Reopened Them In February. “The increases reflect a growing demand for insurance coverage during the pandemic, when many Americans lost job-based coverage or became more worried about remaining uninsured. But they also reflect major policy changes this year: Congress passed legislation that substantially lowered the price of insurance for nearly all Americans buying their own coverage.” [7/14/21]

HuffPost: Obamacare Marketplace Sign-Ups Pass 2 Million, Likely Pushing Down Uninsured Rate. “That figure means total marketplace enrollment is probably at an all-time high, while the number of uninsured Americans may be at an all-time low. In both cases, a big reason would be a set of temporary improvements to the Affordable Care Act that Biden and Democrats are now trying to make permanent.” [7/14/21]

Roll Call: HHS 2 Million People Choose Health Plans During Enrollment Period. “Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure told reporters the agency doesn’t have updated numbers of the total number of people enrolled in marketplace plans, but she called it a “fair assumption” that marketplace enrollment is at an all-time high.” [7/14/21]

CNN: More Than 2 Million Americans Sign Up For Affordable Care Act Coverage Under Biden’s Special Enrollment Period. “Some 1.5 million people have signed up on the federal exchange, healthcare.gov, while more than 600,000 have selected policies in the 14 states and the District of Columbia that run their own exchanges. In addition, among new and returning consumers who have selected a plan since April 1, some 1.2 million, or 34%, picked policies that cost $10 or less per month when factoring in the enhanced premium subsidies made available by the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. About 2.5 million enrollees have returned to the exchange to see what’s available.” [7/14/21]

Reuters: Over Two Million Americans Sign Up For Obamacare Under Biden Drive. “About 1.5 million Americans opted to sign up for insurance on U.S. government website Healthcare.gov while 600,000 more enrolled in coverage through the 15 state-based marketplaces.” [7/14/21]

Becker’s Hospital Review: ACA Special Enrollment Exceeds 2 Million. “The majority of enrollees used healthcare.gov (1.5 million) while the rest (600,000) used a state marketplace. Both numbers are sure to grow as the SEP spans through Aug. 15, but Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program membership are at a record-high 81 million.” [7/14/21]

MSNBC (Maddow Blog): Biden’s ACA Special Enrollment Period Reaches 2 Million Americans. “Some will see their premiums cut in half, while millions will see their premiums fall to literally zero, thanks entirely to the investments in the American Rescue Plan. That’s working well, too: the Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that after the new ACA benefits kicked in on April 1, nearly 2 million consumers — who already had coverage — returned to the marketplace and reduced their monthly premiums.” [7/14/21]

Call Comes After New Report Outlines Urgent Need for Federal Approach to Provide Relief to Millions of People Who Have Been Locked Out of Coverage

Listen to the Call Here

Atlanta, GA — Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) joined Georgia health care advocates and storytellers and Protect Our Care to discuss the Medicaid Saves Lives Act — the Senator’s historic legislation to create a federal program to extend coverage to millions of people stuck in the coverage gap in states that have refused Medicaid expansion.

An estimated four million uninsured adults could gain coverage if the remaining holdout states adopted expansion. Importantly, people of color make up nearly 60 percent of this group. In Georgia, 275,000 adults in the coverage gap would be eligible for coverage through Medicaid expansion.

“Expanding Medicaid is the single most effective solution to closing our state’s coverage gap. I introduced the Medicaid Saves Lives Act to make this solution real,” said U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. “Expanding Medicaid in Georgia would extend health care coverage to nearly 500,000 low income Georgians, improve health outcomes, create tens of thousands of jobs, and bolster our rural hospitals. I’m going to keep pushing as hard as I can to pass this critical provision in the next economic package.”

“The Medicaid Saves Lives Act would build a bridge over the coverage gap, allowing 2.2 million Americans to newly and meaningfully take part in our health care system,” said Laura Colbert, the Executive Director, Georgians for a Healthy Future. “This move would reduce racial disparities in health care, prevent cancer deaths, improve maternal health outcomes, and strengthen economies across the South. All of these benefits will accrue to a greater extent in rural communities.”

“I am proud and thankful for Senator Warnock’s leadership in introducing the Medicaid Saves Lives Act. Closing the Medicaid coverage gap will profoundly improve health care access in this country, said Nedra Fortson, a nurse practitioner who runs a free health care clinic in Albany, Georgia. “At Samaritan Clinic, we have seen these Coverage Gap scenarios play out over the past 14 years, but the Medicaid Saves Lives Act gives me hope that soon our communities will be able to expand the health care access that we desperately need.”

“Waiting for Georgia and the eleven other states that have refused to expand Medicaid to do the right thing is no longer a viable option,” said Protect Our Care Georgia State Director Joe Binns. “Senator Warnock and Congressional Democrats are stepping up to the plate, and leading with a bold new approach for the federal government to close the expansion gap, and Congress must take action now to make it a reality. Georgians, and millions of uninsured people across the country have waited long enough.”

You can listen to the call audio here, and learn more about how the Medicaid program can save lives and improve health outcomes in Georgia by reading this new report from Protect Our Care.

Two Million People Have Signed Up for ACA Coverage Since February

Washington, DC — Today, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that two million Americans have signed up for insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces since President Biden opened a special enrollment period in February. Importantly, many of these enrollees have been able to take advantage of the dramatic savings under the American Rescue Plan, with more than a third of new and returning enrollees selecting plans for $10 or less per month. Americans can continue to enroll in ACA coverage through August 15. In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement: 

“Two million more Americans have health care because Joe Biden is our president. The message is clear: after years of Republican attacks on our health care, Democrats are committed to expanding and improving care for all Americans. Now, Congress has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build on the success of the ACA and lower the cost of prescription drugs, expand Medicare benefits, and close the Medicaid coverage gap. These essential measures are included in the agreement made by Senate Democrats on the forthcoming budget resolution and have strong support from President Biden — a true health care champion. As we recover from the coronavirus pandemic, it is imperative that we make health care better, more accessible and more affordable for all Americans.” 

Yesterday, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) along with Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced legislation to create a federal program extending coverage to millions of people stuck in the coverage gap in states where Republicans have refused to adopt Medicaid expansion. For years, Republican lawmakers have waged a war against Medicaid expansion despite overwhelming evidence that it reduces racial disparities in health care, strengthens economies, and saves lives. And despite robust incentives included in President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, Republicans in 12 states have refused to act, underscoring the need for a federal solution. In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:

“Closing the Medicaid coverage gap is a no-brainer for lawmakers looking to profoundly improve health care access in this country. This legislation demonstrates Democrats’ commitment to expanding coverage to millions of people and builds momentum as Congress debates closing the gap in forthcoming infrastructure legislation. We commend Senators Warnock, Ossoff and Baldwin for stepping in after Republican politicians failed to do the right thing for their constituents.” 

COVERAGE

AP: Senators Seek Medicaid-Like Plan To Cover Holdout States. “The bill would mandate a new health insurance plan that looks just like Medicaid offered to residents in holdout states. The plan would require no premiums and only small copayments, while those costs can be much higher for individuals on the marketplace. People can enroll in Medicaid year-round, while marketplace enrollment is typically only in the fall, or when someone’s circumstances change.” [7/12/21]

• The Bill Would Provide Premium Free Health Access. “The plan would require no premiums and only small copayments, while those costs can be much higher for individuals on the marketplace. People can enroll in Medicaid year-round, while marketplace enrollment is typically only in the fall, or when someone’s circumstances change.” [AP, 7/12/21]
• The Proposal Would Require No State Contributions. “Sponsors say coverage is already paid for because the original Affordable Care Act included money for all 50 states. States normally shoulder 10% of the cost, but the bill would require no state contributions.” [AP, 7/12/21]
• The Bill Also Improves Expansion Incentives For States To Expand On Their Own. “The plan also would boost incentives for holdout states to expand on their own. It would raise the federal share of state-federal Medicaid spending by 10 percentage points this coming decade.” [AP, 7/12/21]

The Hill: Senate Democrats Call For Medicaid-Like Plan To Cover Non-Expansion States. “The legislation would mandate the creation of a federal Medicaid “look-alike” program administered by the federal government. It would provide the same essential benefits of Medicaid, and would not charge any premiums or large copayments.” [7/12/21]

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tammy Baldwin Co-Sponsors Bill To Expand Medicaid To Wisconsin And 11 Other Republican-Controlled States. “Baldwin and Georgia’s Democratic U.S. Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff introduced a bill Monday to provide health coverage to an additional 4 million Americans — including about 90,000 Wisconsinites — who live in states that did not fully expand Medicaid…the Medicaid Saves Lives Act would direct the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to create ‘a federal Medicaid look-alike program, which would provide the same full, essential benefits of Medicaid, but run and administered at the federal level’.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/12/21]

Wisconsin Examiner: Baldwin, Georgia Senators Propose Federal Alternative For States That Refuse Medicaid Expansion. “The new federally funded and administered program would provide the same benefits as Medicaid expansion offers, but without state involvement. The legislation also would include a financial incentive for states to expand their Medicaid program.” [Wisconsin Examiner, 7/13/21]

WRDW: Warnock, Ossoff Push Medicaid-like Plan For Low-income Americans. “The Medicaid Saves Lives Act would direct the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to create and run a federal Medicaid look-alike program [that] would mirror the full, essential benefits of Medicaid. The legislation would also add to the significant financial incentives included in the American Rescue Plan for states to expand Medicaid, giving these states an additional and extended federal medical assistance percentage increase.” [WRDW, 7/13/21]

“Mindy” Will Run on Digital Platforms Statewide

Watch the 30-Second Ad Here

Watch the 15-Second Ad Here

(CHARLESTON, WV)  — Protect Our Care, WV held a virtual press conference Thursday to announce its first digital ad release in West Virginia as part of a seven-figure ad campaign about prescription drug prices. The ad features Mindy, a patient  from Morgantown who is struggling to afford her insulin. In the ad, Mindy tells her personal story and relays the importance of giving Medicare the power to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices for all Americans. 

The ad is part of The Campaign to Reduce Drug Prices, a grassroots and communications campaign calling for comprehensive legislation to lower drug prices. The ad will run on digital platforms, focusing particularly on older Americans, beginning on June 29. Protect Our Care will continue to run ads and host events both nationally and in 13 key states, including West Virginia, throughout the summer.

“Mindy’s story is all too familiar in West Virginia and across the country,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “While drug companies are making record profits and raising the price of hundreds of drugs during the pandemic, millions of Americans are forced to choose between paying for the medicines they need to live or paying for food or rent. Drug companies raise the price of existing drugs like insulin year after year, with no reason other than that they can. It’s time for West Virginia lawmakers to do the right thing and support giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices. The time to act is now.”

“West Virginians are suffering and dying because of the high cost of prescription drugs,” said Mindy Salango, who is featured in the West Virginia ad. “Our elected officials work for us. We vote them in. We are their constituents. It takes less than two minutes to call your elected officials and tell them to support the American Families Plan and H.R.3. We have to let our elected officials know where we stand.”

“Over 430-Thousand West Virginians have foregone medications to pay for household bills and essential items – with recent polling showing that 74 percent of West Virginia residents say they are concerned about the cost of their medications,” said Dr. Jessica Ice, Executive Director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care. “Millions of seniors, people living with disabilities, and families are struggling and in desperate need of federal legislation to negotiate drug prices. It’s disingenuous to suggest that pharmaceutical companies cannot conduct research and development with lower prescription drug costs. Taxpayers pay a large proportion of the research that is necessary to produce the drugs that help them live their healthiest life, so to deny a public good, funded by our government, without cost controls is unconscionable.”

Script for “Mindy” (:15): 

I pay about $350 a month for all my supplies in order to keep my blood glucose under control.

The thought of not being able to afford my medication is terrifying.

It’s time for our leaders to act.

Script for “Mindy” (:30): 

I didn’t even know diabetes ran in my family.

When I was first starting out as a diabetic, insulin generally would cost about $25 a month.

Now, I pay about $350 a month for all my supplies in order to keep my blood glucose under control.

The thought of not being able to afford my medication is terrifying.

West Virginians are suffering and dying because of high prescription drug costs.

It’s time for our leaders to act.

You can watch the press conference here, and learn more about how the Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3) will make prescription drugs more affordable here.