Press Call

 ***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 8 AT 9:30 AM ET***

Washington, D.C. — On Friday, March 8, 2024, at 9:30 AM ET, U.S. Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06) and Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) will join U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and Protect Our Care for a virtual press conference to discuss President Biden’s State of the Union address. According to press reports the President will celebrate the administration’s health accomplishments and outline further action to lower costs and improve care for people across the nation. Republicans, on the other hand, are waging a full-blown war on health care by threatening to repeal the Affordable Care Act, upending reproductive care, raising premiums, ending Medicare and Medicaid as we know it, reversing recent coverage gains, and hiking prescription drug costs for the American people.

Democrats have delivered on health care promises, expanding affordable coverage, driving down prescription drug costs, strengthening Medicaid for moms and kids, and reducing inequities in care. This year, a record 21.3 million people signed up for coverage under the ACA marketplaces, seniors are saving on insulin and vaccine costs, and Medicare is negotiating lower prices for some of the costliest drugs on the market. 

PRESS CALL:

WHO:
U.S. Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06)
U.S. Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA-03)
U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT)
Leslie Dach, Protect Our Care

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

WHERE: Register for the Event Here

WHEN: Friday, March 8, 2024 at 9:30 AM ET

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6th AT 11:15 AM ET***

Raleigh, NC — Today, Congressman Wiley Nickel (D-NC-13) and State Senator Natalie Murdock will join Protect Our Care North Carolina to highlight record-breaking open enrollment numbers, including the 1,027,930 North Carolinians who have signed up for affordable coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. The Biden administration announced that 21.3 million people enrolled in coverage during the latest open enrollment period – over 9 million more than when President Biden took office. Speakers will also discuss a recent report on how the ACA benefits young adults, including a requirement that allows people up to age 26 to stay on their parent’s health plan. The ACA brings coverage to over 4.1 million young Americans.

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act’s reduction of health insurance premium costs, 80 percent of ACA enrollees were able to find a health plan through the Marketplace for $10 or less per month. President Biden and Democrats in Congress are fighting tirelessly to extend these savings. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has fully reignited the GOP war on health care. Speakers will call out how Trump’s plan to repeal the ACA would throw millions of Americans off their coverage, drive up costs, and dismantle vital protections for people with pre-existing conditions. 

PRESS CALL:

WHO:
Congressman Wiley Nickel (D-NC-13)
State Senator Natalie Murdock
Anderson Clayton, Health care storyteller 

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference 

WHERE: Register for the Zoom here [Registration required]

WHEN: Tuesday, February 6th at 11:15 a.m. ET

 

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

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

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

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

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

PRESS CALL:

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

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference 

WHERE: Register for the Event Here.

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

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

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

Legislation is latest effort to expand affordable health coverage.

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

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

PRESS CALL

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

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

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

WHERE: Register for the Zoom here

***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

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13 AT 4:15 PM ET***

Washington, DC — On Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at 4:15 PM ET, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair (CAPAC) Judy Chu (CA-28) and CAPAC Healthcare Task Force Co-Chair Barbara Lee (CA-12) will join Protect Our Care and the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum to discuss how the Inflation Reduction Act is benefiting Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPIs) communities across the nation. By lowering health care premiums and prescription drug prices, the Inflation Reduction Act is making care more affordable for AA and NHPIs, and addressing longstanding disparities in access to care and health outcomes. 

Efforts to make health care more affordable and accessible are particularly important for AA and NHPIs, who have historically faced greater barriers to achieving and maintaining optimal health. The 25.2 million Asian Americans and 1.5 million Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders living in the U.S. have long been more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions like kidney failure, heart disease, and hypertension, and Asian American seniors are more likely than their white counterparts to report difficulty affording prescription medications. During the call, speakers will discuss how the Inflation Reduction Act is working to benefit AA and NHPIs, and other actions President Biden is taking to ensure everyone has the health care they need to thrive. 

PRESS CALL:

WHO:
U.S. Representative Judy Chu (CA-28), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair
U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (CA-12), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Healthcare Task Force Co-Chair
Juliet K. Choi, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
Leslie Dach, Chair of Protect Our Care

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference 

WHERE: Register for the Event Here

WHEN: Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at 4:15 PM ET

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 06 AT 11 AM PT // 2 PM ET***

Open Enrollment for 2024 Medicare Plans Ends December 7th and Brings New Savings for Seniors

Los Angeles, CA – Today, December 06, 2023, at 11 AM PT // 2 PM ET, Attorney General Rob Bonta and Long Beach Commission on Aging Chair Naida Tushnet will join Protect Our Care California to discuss Medicare open enrollment and to educate seniors about new benefits thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, legislation signed into law last year by President Biden. As seniors enroll in their 2024 Medicare plans, during the open enrollment period that ends December 7th, they could save thousands of dollars on their prescription drug costs, with even more savings down the road. New benefits for Medicare beneficiaries include Medicare negotiation for lower drug prices, a $35 monthly copay cap on insulin, free shingles and other essential vaccinations, and $2,000 out-of-pocket caps on prescription drugs beginning in 2025.

Right now, the Biden administration is in the process of lowering prices for the first round of high-cost prescription drugs under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, and those prices will take effect in 2026. The first ten drugs selected for negotiation are taken by nearly 9 million people on Medicare, who spent $3.4 billion in out-of-pocket costs last year alone. This new program will lower prices for some of the highest-priced prescription drugs on the market used to treat conditions like diabetes, heart failure, blood clots, and autoimmune disorders.

PRESS CALL:

WHO:
Attorney General Rob Bonta
Naida Tushnet, Chair, Long Beach Commission on Aging

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

WHEN: Wednesday, December 06, 2023, at 11 AM PT // 2 PM ET

WHERE: Register for the Zoom here

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28 AT 4:00 PM ET***

Washington, DC — On Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 4:00 PM ET, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Representative Colin Allred (TX-32) will join Protect Our Care to discuss how Donald Trump’s mission to “terminate” the Affordable Care Act (ACA) jeopardizes the health and well-being of millions of people across the nation. Over the weekend, Donald Trump renewed calls to repeal the ACA, claiming his administration’s failure to repeal the ACA was “a low point for the Republican party.” His comments echo the words of other MAGA-Republican lawmakers who are actively working to slash the ACA and Medicaid, raise prescription drug costs for seniors, and put drug and insurance companies back in charge at the expense of American families.

Repealing the ACA means ripping away protections for the over 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions, hiking premium costs for millions of working families, and allowing insurance companies to deny basic care like hospital visits and prescription drugs. In total, 20 million Americans would lose coverage and 15 million would see higher health care costs. Read more here. 

PRESS CALL:

WHO:
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR)
U.S. Representative Colin Allred (TX-32)
Laura Packard,  storyteller
Leslie Dach, Chair of Protect Our Care

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference 

WHERE: Register for the Event Here

WHEN: Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 4:00 PM ET