Build Back Better Act Includes Historic Measures That Will Dramatically Lower Health Care Costs and Expand Coverage for Working Families
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) joined Protect Our Care to mark the passage of the Build Back Better Act in the House and to call on the Senate to work quickly to pass this historic legislation. During the call, speakers highlighted the bill’s key health care measures, including lowering insurance premiums, giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, providing historic investments in maternal health, expanding affordable coverage to millions by closing the Medicaid coverage gap, expanding Medicare benefits to cover hearing, and investing $150 billion in home care for seniors and people with disabilities. By passing Build Back Better, Democrats delivered on their promises to lower health care costs and level the playing field for working families.
“One of the most significant things about this bill is that it fulfills a lot of the things that we wanted to do years ago with the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, and Medicare,” said Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06). “The Build Back Better Act extends the American Rescue Plan’s enhanced premium subsidies to help people afford their insurance on the marketplace. The bill closes the coverage gap to help people in red states finally access Medicaid. Build Back Better also allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices, and Medicare will now cover hearing aids. These are all incredible changes to our health care system that will save lives.”
“Thanks to the Build Back Better Act, millions of Americans who do not have access to health care are going to be able to see a doctor, afford their prescription drugs, and have a baby safely,” said U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02). “Alongside my colleagues, I’ve been working so hard to ensure that we close the Medicaid coverage gap and bring health care to people living in states that have them locked out of Medicaid. Where someone lives should not determine whether or not they can see a doctor or get treatment for their children when they have a cold. When everyone has access to affordable health care, we all stay safer and healthier, and we save our health care system and our economy money in the long run.”
“Today has been nothing short of historic. The Build Back Better Act we passed in the House will extend the lower out-of-pocket health premiums I championed in the American Rescue Plan, and it makes the largest investment in history to save moms’ lives and advance birth equity across the United States,” said U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14). “The Build Back Better Act extends advanced premium tax credit enhancements to 2025, ensuring that more people can be covered with lower out-of-pocket costs than ever before. Families across the nation are counting on us to make health care more affordable. I look forward to joining my colleagues and others to get the Build Back Better Act passed in the Senate and signed into law.”
“The House passage of Build Back Better marks a historic day for America,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “Build Back Better will lower costs for families struggling to make ends meet. For too long, Americans have had to pay too much to see the doctor or get the medications they need to survive. Now, working families, seniors, and parents will pay less for prescription drugs and health insurance, and millions of Americans will have health insurance they previously could not afford. Thanks to the dedicated leadership of health care champions like Chairman Pallone and Representatives Kelly and Underwood, millions of Americans can worry a little less when they go to sleep at night.”