Dear Partners,
Affordable, accessible health coverage and care has been out of reach for millions of people for far too long. As the nation continues to recover from the dual health and economic crises of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress and the president have an opportunity to not only help people get back to work by passing the American Jobs Plan, but also to finally address health care affordability in a meaningful way.
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The pandemic brought into clear focus how the cost of health care inhibits health and economic stability. Too many people in our country are still priced out of health coverage. This is especially true for Black and brown people, who face discrimination in employment and education. As a result, they are more likely to work in low-wage jobs without good benefits like health coverage.
While the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was a good first step toward bringing down the cost of high health coverage premiums, we can and must do more.
Use #Affordable4All and #CantAffordInequity on social media and our new affordability messaging in your outreach to members. You can also check out the Summer Actions Calendar for ways to collaborate with other partners and tie your work on COVID-19 recovery, the ACA lawsuit, and other federal policy priorities to a strong affordability agenda that includes:
- Making the increased tax credits for people buying their own insurance permanent;
- Lowering the cost of prescription drugs;
- Lowering out of pocket costs like deductibles and copays; and
- Making affordable health coverage accessible to people in the 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid.
As Congress moves closer to advancing the next reconciliation bill over the coming weeks and months, they need to know that their constituents want affordability to be part of the deal. Together we can seize this opportunity to make real progress on health coverage and access and build pathways to real health and economic recovery.
In Solidarity,
Eva Marie Stahl, Director of Policy & Partnerships
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