News

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY JUNE 23 AT 1:00 PM ET // 12:00 PM CT***

Washington, DC — On Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 1:00 PM ET // 12:00 PM CT, Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD-05) and Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) will join Protect Our Care for a press call to discuss the urgent need for Congress to prevent the American Rescue Plan’s enhanced premium tax credits from expiring. The event comes as health care activists, advocacy groups and concerned citizens across the country engage in Protect Our Care’s day of action calling on Congress to act urgently to keep health care premiums low. 

Last year, a record 14.5 million people signed up for coverage through the ACA marketplaces thanks in large part to the enhanced tax credits, which saved families hundreds of dollars on their monthly health care costs. Now, Democrats are fighting to extend these tax credits for working families — but if Congress fails to act, premiums will skyrocket at the end of this year. The press call makes clear, lawmakers must act now to ensure working families can continue to afford the health care they need. 

PRESS CALL:

WHO:
Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD-05)
U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14)
Dr. Jessica Ice, Executive Director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care and APTC storyteller from West Virginia
Anne Shoup, Protect Our Care

WHAT: Press Call to Discuss Urgent Need to Stop Health Care Premium Hikes

WHERE: Dial-In: 877-229-8493; Pin: 118261

WHEN: Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 1:00 PM ET // 12:00 PM CT

Congress Must Act Now to Extend ARP Premium Savings and Protect the Progress Made in the Fight for Affordable Health Care 

Washington, DC — On Thursday, June 23, 2022, Protect Our Care will partner with health care activists, advocacy groups, and concerned citizens for a day of action to sound the alarm on health insurance premium hikes and call on Congress to extend the American Rescue Plan’s enhanced premium tax credits. As part of the day of action, Protect Our Care and allies will engage social media campaigns, make calls to key members of Congress, and amplify the stories of Americans who will be impacted if Congress fails to act urgently to keep health care premiums low.

President Biden’s American Rescue Plan saved families thousands on their premiums, driving record enrollment and giving people breathing room to pay for other necessities. But the expanded tax credits that powered those savings are set to expire at the end of the year, and as a result, millions will see dramatic increases in their 2023 health insurance premiums — many will no longer be able to afford insurance at all. Last November, House Democrats ​​passed legislation to prevent premiums from skyrocketing at the end of this year. Now, congress must extend the premium tax credits to ensure hardworking families can continue to access the health care they need.

“The nation is on the verge of a health care crisis. If lawmakers fail to act now, millions could pay thousands more on their health insurance premiums, and as many as three million people  are at-risk of losing coverage altogether,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “Congress must extend the premium tax credits before it’s too late so families can continue to access the health care they need.” 

If Congress Fails to Act:

• Millions Will Lose Coverage. More than 3 million people will become uninsured if the American Rescue Plan’s enhanced premium tax credits expire—increasing the number of uninsured Americans by 11 percent.
• Premium Increases Will Be Widespread. Insurers are already pursuing double-digit premium increases. Nearly nine million Americans will retain their marketplace coverage but will be forced to pay significantly higher rates. 
• Geographic And Racial Disparities Will Grow. Three states—Florida, Georgia, and Texas—will make up half of the increase of uninsured Americans if the tax credits are allowed to lapse. Americans living in rural areas, like West Virginia, will suffer disproportionately, with premiums already an average of 10 percent higher than in urban areas. 

Additional Resources:
Day of Action: Congress Must Take Action Now to Stop Premium Hikes
HEADLINES: Congress Faces a Health Care “Fiasco” as American Rescue Plan Subsidies Are Set to Expire

With Abortion Rights in Jeopardy, Strengthening and Protecting Women’s Health Access is Paramount 

Watch the Video Here.

Today, Protect Our Care is releasing a new video explaining how Republicans have waged a war against women’s health care. In the coming weeks, right-wing Justices on the Supreme Court are expected to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, opening the floodgates for states to ban abortion. In addition to attacking abortion rights, Republicans and their allies have spent years eroding access to other types of essential care — only making the Supreme Court’s pending decision even more dangerous. 

Republicans oppose measures to combat the maternal mortality crisis, they are undermining access to contraception and preventive services, and they are fighting legislation to drive down health care costs and expand affordable care. The video follows a new report outlining urgent measures to improve women’s health care access as the nation faces a crisis for abortion rights.

Read the full report here

Video Script:

Women’s health care is facing a national crisis. 

Any day now, right-wing Justices on the Supreme Court could overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, opening the floodgates for states to ban abortion. 

Abortion has long been at the center of the Republicans’ war on women’s health, but the GOP has also spent years eroding women’s access to other types of care. 

The Republican lawmakers seeking to ban abortions are the same people who have fought to repeal the Affordable Care Act, sabotaged access to contraception, refused to address the maternal mortality crisis, and opposed Medicaid expansion and other common sense reforms to lower the cost of health care for working families.

Now, with the impending court decision, protecting women’s access to care and passing reforms to help mitigate some of the worst impacts is paramount. 

Every woman in this country deserves affordable, quality health care – including full access to reproductive health. For more resources and to learn how to get involved, check out these websites.

Repeal Threats Come As GOP is Unanimously Opposing Legislation to Lower Drug Prices and Health Care Premiums for American Families

Washington, DC — Today, in a radio interview, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) called for destroying protections for people with pre-existing conditions by funneling them into high risk pools. The reality is that returning to high risk pools means people with common conditions like asthma or diabetes would face discrimination and have to pay more for completely inadequate coverage. Every time they have been tried, they have failed. This comes after Senator Johnson recently said Republicans need to make a “plan” to repeal the Affordable Care Act if they gain power in 2024. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement: 

“Ron Johnson is reminding us just what’s at stake if Republicans take back power in November. They want to return to a time where people with pre-existing conditions can be charged more or denied coverage, they want to raise health care costs for working families who purchase insurance on their own, they want to keep Big Pharma in charge while patients struggle to afford their medications, and they want to throw millions off of their health care coverage. Let’s be clear: if lawmakers like Ron Johnson or Rick Scott get their way, the Affordable Care Act — and its protections for millions of Americans — will be destroyed.” 

Millions of Americans Could Pay Thousands More on Their Health Premiums if Congress Fails to Act

The nation is on the verge of a health care crisis. The health care savings under the American Rescue Plan are set to expire, which would mean millions of Americans will see dramatic increases in their 2023 health insurance premiums. Vermont already gave us the first glimpse into how this will play out across the country after private insurers proposed rate increases as high as 24 percent. Failure to extend the American Rescue Plan’s premium tax credits means nine million Americans would pay more for their health care at a time families are already concerned about keeping up with rising costs — and as many as three million Americans could lose coverage altogether. 

Recent news coverage makes clear that if Congress fails to act soon, families could see their premiums skyrocket as they head to the polls in November. This is entirely preventable. Lawmakers must act now to ensure working families can continue to afford the health care they need. 

HEADLINES:

Politico: An Obamacare Fiasco Could Blow Up On Democrats Right Before The Midterms. “The price hikes would hit an estimated 13 million people across the country, potentially adding hundreds of dollars to families’ monthly expenses…voters would begin receiving notices about their premium increases in October — around the same time they’re starting to cast their midterm ballots…Health experts predict abruptly eliminating the subsidies would especially reverse the coverage gains among Black people and those who live in red states that haven’t expanded Medicaid. For millions more, their monthly premiums would potentially skyrocket.” [Politico, 5/20/22]

Washington Post: Here’s What Expiring Obamacare Subsidies Could Mean For Consumers. “For one, the number of uninsured Americans could increase…An estimated 3 million people with plans on the Obamacare marketplaces could become uninsured if the increased tax credits expire…” [Washington Post, 5/27/22]

Huffington Post: Democrats Have Little Time To Avert An Election-Eve Obamacare Premium Hike. “Health insurance premiums for millions of Americans will spike if Congress doesn’t act in the next few months, with particularly big increases in politically contested states…The assistance, which President Joe Biden and the Democrats enacted as part of last year’s COVID-19 relief program, has reduced premiums by hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars a year. But the assistance is set to end in December. If that happens, prices will go back up and consumers will start to learn about the increases in the fall.” [Huffington Post, 5/16/22]

Washington Post: Congress Is Under Pressure From State Marketplaces To Keep Obamacare Subsidies Higher. “They’re issuing warnings about large spikes in premiums — notices Americans could receive just weeks before the midterm elections. It’s a message roughly 17 directors of state-based Obamacare exchanges will make in meetings today with administration officials and on the Hill with top Democratic and Republican staff.” [Washington Post, 5/17/22]

Politico: The Subsidy Cliff Is Coming. “Millions of people who signed up for individual marketplace coverage this year could lose care or see big premium hikes in 2023 as the clock ticks for lawmakers to extend or formalize Affordable Care Act subsidies introduced during the public health emergency…Even if states act quickly in the absence of congressional action, people might not receive renewal information or know they qualify for other programs if they’re kicked off Medicaid…” [Politico, 5/26/22]

The Hill: Vulnerable House Democrats Urge Action To Prevent Obamacare Premium Hike This Fall. “‘These out-of-pocket cost increases are imminent: starting this autumn, when enrollees begin receiving notices of their premium increases for 2023 health plans, our constituents will find that the same high-quality coverage that they have been able to afford thanks to the American Rescue Plan will now be out of reach,’ the lawmakers write…If the enhanced subsidies are not extended, premium increases could be substantial. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that premiums would have been 53 percent higher on average this year without the extra financial assistance.” [The Hill, 5/23/22]

Politico: Dems Push For Obamacare Extension. “A group of more than two dozen vulnerable Democrats from swing districts is sounding the alarm on a major Obamacare shortfall set to kick in as voters head to the polls this fall…Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) leads the group that’s asking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to employ reconciliation to fast-track legislation extending subsidies used to offset costs of insurance plans sold on the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace.” [Politico, 5/24/22]

Tampa Bay Times: 500,000 Floridians Could Lose Health Coverage Without Tax Credits, Study Warns. “The tax credits dramatically lowered premiums for millions of Florida families who this year obtained their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act…If lawmakers cannot reach an agreement, premiums could rise by 53% in 2023, forcing millions of Americans to go without health insurance. Florida would be one of the states hardest hit…” [Tampa Bay Times, 6/6/22]

Concord Monitor (Opinion): We Need Permanent Healthcare Subsidies. “For vulnerable or at-risk populations for which any illness could turn into a medical emergency, it’s a life-or-death matter when it comes to the ability to receive quick, affordable medical care. Health insurance tax credits have helped get people the care they need through affordable health coverage. We must continue this program so more people can take advantage of them not just now, but in the years to come. This only happens if Congress acts with haste to make them permanent before the August recess.” [Concord Monitor, 6/5/22]

Becker’s Hospital Review: Healthcare Spending Will Drop $11.4B, Over 3 Million To Lose Insurance If Arpa Tax Credits Expire, Study Finds. “3.1 million people will become uninsured if Congress does not extend the American Rescue Plan Act subsidies established last year…” [Becker’s Hospital Review, 5/25/22]

Business Insider: West Virginians Will See The Biggest Spike In Obamacare Premiums Within Months If Manchin Keeps Blocking Biden’s Economic Agenda. “In West Virginia, people would see an average premium hike of $1,536 per person…With ACA open enrollment kicking off on Nov. 1, many Americans would see the eye-popping premium increases for 2023 just a week before casting votes in the midterms.” [Business Insider, 5/16/22]

Kaiser Health News: New Covered California Leader Urges Renewal Of Enhanced Federal Aid For Health Premiums. “The extra dollars reduced the average monthly premium cost to Covered California enrollees by 20% this year compared with 2021, according to estimates from the exchange. And the lower cost helped push enrollment to a record 1.8 million this year. Nationally, the average premium cost for marketplace enrollees dropped 23%, and enrollment rose to 14.5 million, also a record. Altman fears that without the continued support, the cost to consumers will rise sharply, and many people will forgo coverage. It’s why she says one of her first tasks is to push Congress for an extension of the American Rescue Plan subsidies.” [Kaiser Health News, 5/18/22]

Florida Politics: Expiration Of Public Health Emergency, Enhanced Tax Credits Could Surge State’s Uninsured Rolls. “There’s a ‘perfect storm’ brewing that could lead to hundreds of thousands of Florida residents losing their health insurance coverage…costs of health insurance premiums could soar by 53% for more than 2.5 million people if Congress does not make permanent the enhanced subsidies that were included in the American Rescue Plan.” [Florida Politics, 5/19/22]

Health News Florida: Hundreds Of Thousands Of Florida Residents May Become Uninsured In 2023 Without Premium Tax Credits. “If you create a situation where coverage is so unaffordable that only really sick people want to be in it, you’re going to then raise premiums and you’re going to make that situation a little bit worse every year because every year premiums will get higher. So it’s bad for individuals and it’s bad for the market as a whole when premiums go up.” [Health News Florida, 5/11/22]

Cincinnati Enquirer (Opinion): Make Health Care Tax Credits Permanent. “Half of Americans worry about keeping up with health care costs, not only because it drains our bank accounts, but because we literally can’t live without it…the American Rescue Plan made health care premiums more affordable than ever. These tax credits have been a crucial lifeline for families during the pandemic, and now is the time to make them permanent.” [Cincinnati Enquirer, 5/21/22]

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR MONDAY, JUNE 13 AT 12:30 PM MT***

New Report Shows Impact to Health Coverage Affordability in Arizona if Congress Fails to Make the Premium Tax Credits Included in the American Rescue Plan Permanent

Phoenix, AZ — Today, June 13, 2022 at 12:30 PM MT, Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-07) and health care advocates will join Protect Our Care Arizona to discuss a new report that shows the premium tax credits included in the American Rescue Plan have made health coverage more affordable for Arizonans. These premium tax credits dramatically lowered the cost of health care coverage for 167,009 people. Advocates in Arizona also signed a letter to members of Arizona’s Federal Delegation highlighting what’s at stake for Arizonans’ coverage affordability if Congress fails to extend the tax credits this year. 

The new report highlights recent studies showing that more than three million people – including an estimated 33,000 Arizonans – could lose their coverage if Congress fails to make these enhanced premium tax credits permanent. The American Rescue Plan saved families thousands of dollars on their premiums, but the expanded tax credits that powered those savings will expire at the end of 2022, and as a result, premiums for next year’s plans will rise dramatically for millions who buy insurance on their own. Only Congress can prevent this from happening; it’s time to extend the ACA premium tax credits to ensure that hardworking families can continue to access the health care they need.

VIRTUAL EVENT:

WHO:  Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-07)
Brian Hummell, Government Relations Director, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Anna Laidlaw, Arizona ACA Enrollee
Protect Our Care Arizona

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

WHERE: Register for the Event Here

WHEN: Monday, June 13, 2022 at 12:30 PM MT

State and Local Officials, Health Care Advocates Headlined Events and Published Op-Eds in Key States

Across the country, state and local officials are continuing to speak out to support efforts in Congress to lower health care costs and expand access to quality coverage for millions of Americans. Unless Congress extends these health care premium reductions in the American Rescue Plan, millions of Americans will see dramatic increases in their 2023 health insurance premiums, and an estimated three million people will lose coverage completely. 

As Protect Our Care continues its activities across the country, health care champions in Congress raised the alarm of rising premiums throughout the week. 

NATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer and Democratic Whip James E. Clyburn published an op-ed in The Hill calling for Congress to expand Medicaid coverage and provide access to affordable health care plans

“Congress needs to act now to provide certainty and stability for millions of Americans and avoid a worrisome spike in costs. As House Democratic leaders, we will continue promoting legislation to protect accessible, affordable health-care coverage that expands access and reduces costs for individuals and families. We urge our House and Senate colleagues to seek swift agreement on legislation that will provide certainty and reassurance to the millions now at risk of losing access to affordable, quality health care.” 

Read the full piece here.

Senator Klobuchar called on her colleagues to prevent widespread premium hikes by extending the American Rescue Plan’s tax credits. Watch here:

Secretary Yellen and Representative Neal urge Congress to extend tax credits to protect Americans from the rising cost of health care. Watch more here:

NEW JERSEY

Today, Assemblyman Chris Tully and health care advocates will join Protect Our Care New Jersey at 12:00 PM ET to discuss a new report that shows the premium tax credits included in the American Rescue Plan dramatically lowered the cost of healthcare coverage for 280,108 New Jerseyans.

The new report highlights recent studies showing that more than three million people – including 84,000 New Jerseyans – could lose their coverage if Congress fails to make these enhanced premium tax credits permanent. The American Rescue Plan saved families thousands of dollars on their premiums, but the expanded tax credits that powered those savings will expire at the end of 2022, and as a result, premiums for next year’s plans will rise dramatically for millions who buy insurance on their own. Only Congress can prevent this from happening; it’s time to extend the ACA premium tax credits to ensure that hardworking families can continue to access the health care they need. 

Register to join the Zoom event (Registration required) 

GEORGIA

On Friday, June 3 State Representative Mary Robichouax and health care advocates from across the state joined Protect Our Care Georgia to discuss a new report that shows the premium tax credits included in the American Rescue Plan have made health coverage more affordable for Georgians. 

“Two years ago, we only had four insurance companies willing to come into the Georgia exchange, and this caused a lot of problems across our state. In many areas of the state, there was one carrier, if at all. We are now up to 11 insurance companies on the exchange, and the system is stabilized. A large part of that is more people joining the exchange thanks to the tax credits,” said State Representative Mary Robichaux. “The exchange is more stable when you help people cover those costs. That’s what we need to continue to keep. We all need to urge Congress to extend these credits quickly so that we have a health care system where all our citizens can access care, and that it’s equitable to everyone.” You can watch the event here.

FLORIDA

Miami Herald (Opinion): Republicans in Congress Should Protect Floridians by Protecting Healthcare Tax Credits

US Sun: PRICE HIKE Millions of Americans Face a $2,000 per Year in Extra Charges as Tax Credits Set to End – Are You Affected?

WMNF 88.5 (Tampa Radio): Segment ACA Subsidies Lowering Health Care Costs for Floridians

WKRG News 5: Half Million Floridians Could Lose Health Insurance in 2023, Study Says

WISCONSIN

Up North News (Opinion): Wisconsin Republicans Willing to Let Health Insurance Premiums Skyrocket

Report Outlines Steps to Improve Women’s Health Care Access as Supreme Court Weighs Fate of Abortion Rights 

Read the Full Report Here

Washington, DC — Today, Protect Our Care is releasing a new report outlining urgent measures to improve women’s health care access as the nation faces a crisis for abortion rights. In the coming weeks, right-wing Justices on the Supreme Court are expected to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, opening the floodgates for states to ban abortion. Abortion has long been at the center of the Republican war on women’s health, but the GOP has also spent years eroding women’s access to other types of care. Between attacking the Affordable Care Act’s protections for women to blocking legislation to fight maternal mortality, Republicans have only made it harder for women to obtain essential care. Now, with the pending court decision, strengthening and protecting women’s access to care is paramount. 

In addition to working tirelessly to protect abortion rights, President Biden and Democrats in Congress are fighting to safeguard contraception and equal insurance coverage, end the maternal mortality crisis, and expand Medicaid coverage to ensure women can get the health care they need. With abortion rights are under the greatest threat in more than 50 years, passing these health care reforms will help mitigate some of the devastation caused by the radical justices and their Republican allies. 

“The GOP’s longstanding war on women’s health care has never been more damaging,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “Maternal mortality is on the rise, millions of women are struggling to afford essential care, and now basic health care rights are under attack. The Republican lawmakers seeking to ban abortions are the same people who have sabotaged access to contraception, refused to address the maternal mortality crisis, and opposed Medicaid expansion and other common sense reforms to lower the cost of health care for working families. Every woman in this country deserves affordable, quality health care – including full access to reproductive health – and any lawmaker fighting reforms to expand coverage and improve care has no regard for human life at all.” 

Lowering costs and expanding affordable insurance coverage is critical to achieving health equity for  LGBT+ Americans. Barriers to quality and consistent care such as poverty and discrimination make it difficult for LGBT+ individuals to access health care and afford prescription medications. While the Biden Administration has prioritized improving LGBT+ care, Republicans in state legislatures continue to undermine LGBT+ rights by fighting access to gender affirming care, banning LGBT+ representation in schools, and other measures to discriminate against LGBT+ youth. Improving access to care and protecting LGBT+ individuals from health care discrimination are essential for improving the health and well being of LGBT+ Americans nationwide.

The Biden Administration Has Prioritized Improving LGBT+ Care

Expanding Health Coverage For Millions Of Americans. Premium subsidies made available by the American Rescue Plan helped nearly 210,000 LGBT+ enrollees have access to zero-premium plan. Nationwide, 20 percent of Black LGBT+ individuals are uninsured, compared to 15 percent of Black heterosexual and cisgender individuals and 9 percent of white counterparts. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, nearly 3 million uninsured adults received premium tax credits and a record 14.5 million consumers signed up for health care on the marketplace.

Reversing Trump Policy Allowing Sexual Orientation Discrimination. In May 2021, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra announced that sexual orientation would be restored as a protected class under the Affordable Care Act. This protects sexual orientation and gender identity from health care discrimination, ensuring that LGBT+ inidividuals aren’t denied coverage or charged more for care. This reversal has been especially important with transgender rights being attacked by state-level Republicans. 

Protecting Transgender Youth. The Biden Administration is focusing on providing mental health support, creating a more welcoming environment in public schools, and acknowledging the positive impacts of gender affirming care. In honor of Transgender Visibility Day in March 2022, the Justice Department issuing a letter to all state attorneys genera reinforcing federal transgender youth protections against discrimination and obtaining gender affirming care l. The Department of State also enacted gender affirming markers on passports by adding “X” to be selected instead of the binary “F” or “M.” 

Republican Have Intensified Attacks On LGBT+ Care

Gov. DeSantis’ “Don’t Say Gay” Bill. Early this year, Gov. DeSantis signed the Parental Rights In Education bill, otherwise dubbed as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. This bill prohibits teachers or school personnel from classroom discussion on sexual orientation or gender identity for kindergarten through third grade. In the face of opposition, Gov. DeSantis has said that teaching children about LGBT+ rights is “inappropriate” and is “not something that’s appropriate for any place, but especially not in Florida.” 

Gov. Abbott’s Transgender Child Abuse Order. Gov. Abbott ordered Texas child welfare investigators to launch child abuse investigations into reports of transgender children receiving gender-affirming care. He went one step further in calling for members of the general public and “licensed professionals” to report parents of transgender youth to be investigated. Gov. Abbott’s order was following an opinion by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stating that allowing minors to receive transition care such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery is child abuse under state law. 

Republican Anti-LGBT+ Bills Sweep The Nation. As of late March 2022, 166 anti-LGBT+ bills are pending in state legislatures. Roughly 75 of these new bills restrict classroom discussions or books featuring LGBT+ issues or representation from public schools; nearly 50 bills attempt to ban transgender youth from playing sports that align with their gender identity; and at least 29 bills seek to ban gender affirming medical care. These bills have become especially prevalent as the GOP seeks to energize its base before the 2022 midterm elections. 

Improving Health Care Access Is Essential for LGBT+ Americans

LGBT+ Americans Suffer From High Prescription Drug Prices

Protecting LGBT+ Americans From Outrageous Price Increases. 21.6 percent of the LGBT+ community lives in poverty and nearly half of transgender people have postponed or skipped care due to cost. A 2018 study by the UCLA Williams Institute School of Law found that 15 percent of gay men and women delayed or went without medication in the past year. LGBT+ individuals have an increased risk of diabetes due to inequities in quality of health care. 

Closing The Medicaid Coverage Gap Would Help Low Income LGBT Americans Gain Coverage

Closing The Coverage Gap Improves Outcomes For LGBT+ Individuals. According to a Center for American Progress survey, in 2019, the LGBT+ uninsured rate was 20 percent in holdout states, compared to 8 percent in states that adopted Medicaid expansion. 29 percent of LGBT+ individuals faced difficulty seeking medical care when sick or injured due to cost. LGBT+ Americans are twice as likely to be without health insurance. 

Medicaid Drastically Reduces Disparities. Closing the Medicaid coverage gap is the single most important policy to expand coverage and reduce racial inequities in the American health care system. A 2021 study found that more Black LGBT+ adults had Medicaid as their primary insurance compared to their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. 

Expanding Home And Community-Based Services Would Help Older LGBT Americans

Millions of LGBT+ Americans To Grow Old At Home. Federally provided home and community-based services funds helped more than 100,000 individuals return to their homes and communities from nursing facilities between 2008 and 2019. Allowing LGBT+ seniors to grow old at home helps alleviate the concern older LGBT+ adults have about being neglected, abused, or face discrimination in nursing home or assisted living facilities.

On the final day of Mental Health Awareness Month, Protect Our Care is releasing a new fact sheet outlining the importance of lowering health care costs in order to improve care for people suffering from mental illness. Nationwide, more than 52 million Americans suffer from mental illness. Young adults between 18 to 25 years old are the most at risk, with more than 30 percent of people in that age range suffering from conditions like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. In the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, America’s mental health decline has worsened, suicide rates are on the rise, and it has become a national crisis. At the same time, there is a serious barrier to accessing treatment: 27 percent of Americans with anxiety or depression have reported having their care needs unmet due to cost, not knowing how to navigate gaining care, or provider shortages.

The Biden administration has already taken bold action to address Americans’ declining mental health. At the State of the Union this year, President Biden unveiled an ambitious mental health and drug use treatment plan. The plan has a special focus on school aged youth to help those who fell behind during virtual learning or suffered from isolation during the pandemic. The Department of Health and Human Services partnered with the Department of Education to provide schools with additional mental health assistance through funding and technical assistance in launching new programs. President Biden’s plan also called on health insurance plans to cover behavioral and mental health services with a minimum of three free services a year. The Biden Administration has set aside $700 million for programs to provide education and training to increase the amount of working mental health professionals. 

Now, President Biden and Democrats in Congress are working to improve health care access by lowering premium costs, reducing drug prices, and expanding affordable coverage. These steps to lower costs and improve access to care is essential to fighting the U.S. mental health crisis. 

LOWERING COSTS & EXPANDING COVERAGE IS ESSENTIAL TO IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH CARE

Lowering Premiums

Lowering Premiums Is Vital To Ensure Americans Have Access To Mental Health Care. More than 3 million people will become uninsured if the American Rescue Plan’s enhanced premium tax credits expire—increasing the number of uninsured Americans by 11 percent. Insurers are already pursuing double-digit premium increases, causing nearly nine million Americans to pay significantly higher rates in order to retain their marketplace coverage. Affordability is the most prevalent barrier to obtaining mental health care. Being able to afford and access health care is linked with reductions in suicide and can allow people to get preventative care for mental illness.

Lowering Prescription Drug Costs

Lowering Prescription Costs Is Essential For Those Suffering From Mental Health Illness. Prescription medication can be a necessary treatment for many individuals suffering from mental illness. Drugs used to treat mental health and substance use disorders account for a quarter of all pharmaceutical spending for private insurers and a third of spending for Medicaid. These drugs can cost an individual anywhere from $15 to $1,000 a month, regardless of insurance status. It is particularly important for individuals using antidepressants, SSRIs, and other medications used to treat mental health disorders to have constant availability to their medications. Taking these medications as prescribed, usually on a daily basis, is important for treatment of mental health disabilities. When drug prices can prevent individuals from having access to their medication, people can’t take their medications as prescribed causing a lapse in treatment. Lowering prescription drug costs is vital to improving the nationwide mental health crisis.

Medicaid Expansion

Closing The Medicaid Coverage Gap Increases Mental Health Care. There are more than two million Americans currently trapped in the Medicaid coverage gap to access zero dollar premium health coverage. One in four people in the Medicaid coverage gap suffer from mental or behavioral health issues. The Affordable Care Act mandates Medicaid and private insurers to cover mental health care and preventative mental health screenings at no cost. Alongside Medicaid expansion, the enforcement of parity laws increases access to mental and behavioral health care for uninsured individuals by covering medications, therapy, and treatments for substance use disorders. Closing the coverage gap also saves lives. Giving uninsured Americans access to timely and affordable care is closely associated with reducing suicide rates among middle aged adults. Expanding Medicaid coverage is one of the most important things the federal government can do to combat America’s worsening mental health crisis.

MENTAL HEALTH IS A NATIONAL ISSUE

Gaps In Mental Health Care

Mental Health Care Provider Shortages Impact Millions. While finding care for mental health has always been difficult, the pandemic has specifically exacerbated this issue. More people than ever are seeking care and therapists and psychologists are overwhelmed. A survey by the American Psychological Association, found that out of 1,100 psychologists, 65 percent had no capacity for new patients and 68 percent had waitlists longer than in 2020. Rural areas of the country are specifically vulnerable to personnel shortages, with over an estimated 7,000 new mental health providers needed to fill care gaps. 

Minority Populations Are Particularly Vulnerable To Be Without Care. Youth, young adults, and minority populations are particularly suffering from the lack of available mental health care. There are only 8,300 practicing child psychologists in the United States for more than an estimated 15 million children who are in need of mental health care. Black and Hispanic people substantially lack access to mental health care, especially when compared to their white counterparts. Nearly 70 percent of Black and Hispanic populations suffering from mental illness go without care. 

Insurers Block Patients From Getting Mental Health Care In A Timely Manner. Health insurance plans do not make it easy for insurees to receive mental health care. In January 2022, 30 health care plans were reprimanded by the federal government for failing to cover mental health treatments that are required by the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. These plans were failing to cover interventions such as therapy, prescription drugs, or requiring referrals or pre-authorizations to receive mental and behavioral health treatments. The bipartisan Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, sponsored by Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01) and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), seeks to streamline the pre-authorization process, so Americans can get the care they need in a timely manner without having to wait for referrals from their primary care providers.

Pandemic Worsened Mental Health For Americans

Anxiety On The Rise During The COVID-19 Pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased the number of people suffering from mental illness. Between 2019 and 2021, the amount of people that completed a mental health screen increased by nearly 500 percent. Anxiety is the number one mental illness that has been developed by the pandemic. Of the one million people screened for anxiety in 2021, nearly 80 percent had moderate to severe anxiety. This has been largely due to the unprecedented amounts of stress caused by the pandemic on individuals. Financial problems caused by taking time off due to COVID-19 infections, unemployment, and the rising cost of living has caused 65 percent of Americans to report high levels of stress and anxiety.

Suicide Rates On The Rise. Between 2000 and 2020, the adult suicide rate in the US rose by 30 percent. According to CDC data, suicide rates peaked in 2018 at about 14 deaths to 100,000 people. However, in 2020, teen suicides rose in many states and accounted for a majority share of deaths across 14 states. While it is still unclear how related the pandemic is to the rise in teen suicides, researchers hypothesize the loss of caregivers due to COVID-19 and the changes to virtual or hybrid schooling could be contributing to the increase in deaths. 

TEENS MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION

Teens Mental Health At A Decline

Four In Ten Teens Report Feeling Hopeless or Sad. In March 2022, the CDC officially warned the public of the “accelerating mental health crisis.” Findings in an early 2021 national survey, found that 40 percent of teens reported feeling hopeless or sad and 20 percent having contemplated suicide. Increased social media use, decline of in person social gatherings, global stressors, and parenting factors are largely responsible for the over two decade trend of declining teen mental health. Teen alcohol and drug use has also surged with over 30 percent reporting increased drug use during the pandemic. 

Teens And Young Adults Of Color Are Especially At Risk. Black students on college campuses have faced a growing number of racist or white supremacist incidents since 2018. Students of color experience mental and physical health consequences caused by these incidents. Colleges are failing to provide help for students of color who are mentally suffering from these incidents, let alone being able to provide minority therapists to provide racially and culturally sensitive care. High school students who have experienced racism at school also reported poor mental health and were more likely to have a physical, mental or emotional problem that makes it more difficult to concentrate.

Nearly Half Of LGBT Youth Have Considered Suicide. Declining mental health statistics among LGBT children and teens are staggering. According to the 2022 Trevor Project LGBT Youth Mental Health Survey, nearly three in four LGBT teens reported experiencing anxiety and over half reported feelings of depression, while 45 percent have considered suicide. While over 80 percent of LGBT youth reported wanting mental health care, 60 percent were not able to get it. Over 40 percent of those who could not get mental health care said it was due to lack of affordability. 

Lack Of Support In Schools

Mental Health Support In Schools Varies By State. Across the nation, mental health support in schools varies by state and education funding levels. States like California, Colorado, Washington, and Illinois have robust mental health support in schools and have adopted multiple strategies to improve mental health in schools. Meanwhile, states such as West Virginia, Georgia, South Dakota, and Missouri are rated among states with the poorest mental health support in schools due to lack of investment in support programs. Other state laws that impact children are also affecting students’ mental health. For example, the Texas law equating transgender care to child abuse and Florida’s law prohibiting “classroom discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity” raises concern among mental health professionals, as these laws specifically prevent LGBT students from a safe learning envrionment in schools. 

Low Income Schools And Students Struggle With Increased Mental Health Problems. Over 50 percent of students in low income schools struggle with mental health illness, but only 20 percent of educators in these schools feel equipped to support these students. The pandemic is believed to have worsened conditions for students, with over four in five teachers reporting mental health conditions were a high or emergency priority during this past school year. A 2022 survey by FirstBook found that low income students dealing with unstable home life, food insecurity, and isolation due to the pandemic were among the most vulnerable to suffering from mental illness. As the national mental health decline is also affecting adults, educators in schools without financial support for mental health improvements are struggling with finding ways to support students, while also helping themselves.