August 2021

“Adrian” Is Running on Digital Platforms Statewide

Watch the 30-Second Ad Here

Watch the 15-Second Ad Here

West Virginia — Protect Our Care recently launched its second digital ad in West Virginia as part of a multi-million dollar ad campaign about prescription drug prices. The ad features Adrian, a Morgantown-based patient storyteller with Type I diabetes who has difficulty paying for her insulin. In the ad, Adrian tells her personal story of struggling to afford lifesaving medication 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 is running on digital platforms, focusing particularly on older West Virginians. Protect Our Care will continue to run ads and host events both nationally and in 14 key states, including West Virginia, throughout the summer.

“Adrian’s story is all too familiar in West Virginia and across the country,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “It is unfair that Americans pay two or three times more for their medicines than people in other countries. Drug companies keep raising 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.”

Script for “Adrian” (:30s):

My name is Adrian and I have type one diabetes. 

Insulin was $25 a month and now I’m paying over $300 a month. 

In Canada, insulin is a fraction of what I’m paying here in the United States.

Over my 37 years of having diabetes, it’s cost me upwards of $300,000. 

It just takes that extra money that you would have away from you. 

It’s time to let Medicare negotiate lower prescription drug prices for everybody.

Script for “Adrian” (:15s):

Insulin was $25 a month and now I’m paying over $300 a month. 

It just takes that extra money that you would have away from you. 

It’s time to let Medicare negotiate lower prescription drug prices for everybody.

President Biden has presented his vision for lowering prescription drug prices, just one day after Senate Democrats passed a budget resolution that will work to provide reduced premiums, expand coverage, lower drug costs, and expanded Medicare benefits to millions of Americans. 9 in 10 Americans support giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, including majorities of Democrats, independents, and Republicans. Addressing the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs is a priority for Americans and should come as no surprise that it is at the center of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda.

HEADLINES: 

New York Times: Biden Presses Congress To Move On Prescription Drug-Price Controls. “[Biden] wants Medicare to be granted the power to negotiate lower drug prices, pharmaceutical companies to face penalties if they raise prices faster than inflation, and a new cap on how much Medicare recipients have to spend on medications. ‘There aren’t a lot of things that almost every American could agree on,’ Mr. Biden said at the White House. ‘But I think it is safe to say that all of us, whatever our background or our age and where we live, could agree that prescription drug prices are outrageously expensive in America.’” [8/12/21]

The Hill: Biden Calls On Congress To Act On ‘Outrageously’ High Drug Prices. “‘Prescription drug prices are outrageously expensive in America,’ Biden said in remarks at the White House, calling on Congress to allow Medicare to negotiate lower prices. ‘I look forward to Congress getting this done,’ he added…He said Medicare should be able to negotiate lower prices, and those prices should apply to people with private insurance through their jobs as well, not just people on Medicare.” [8/12/21]

Newsweek: Biden Calls On Congress To Lower ‘Outrageously Expensive’ Prescription Drug Costs. “Medicare—the federal health insurance program that covers more than 61 million Americans, most of them ages 65 and older—can negotiate costs for every other service, but it’s blocked from the same power when it comes to prescription drugs…’Right now, drug companies will set a price at whatever the market will bear,’ Biden said. ‘The prices have put a squeeze on too many people’s families.’” [8/12/21]

NBC: Biden Calls On Congress To Tackle Soaring Prices Of Prescription Drugs. “Biden urged Congress to allow Medicare to negotiate across the board…and said that the negotiated prices would reflect the drugmakers’ costs of research and development and would still provide a ‘significant profit’ to the pharmaceutical companies…‘This isn’t a partisan issue. Alzheimer’s, diabetes, cancer — they don’t care whether you’re a Democrat or Republican,’ Biden said. ‘This is another area where we can come together to make a difference in people’s lives.’” [8/12/21]

Reuters: Biden Urges Congress To Lower Prescription Drug Costs. “The Democratic president’s remarks laid out his vision to help reduce the costs for prescription medications as part of the Build Back Better agenda he is seeking to push through Congress as the nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic…That spending plan would expand Medicare to include dental, vision and hearing benefits as well as lower the eligibility age, among other healthcare, climate and childcare provisions.” [8/12/21]

WLEX: Biden Delivers Push For Congress To Lower Drug Prices. “President Biden was calling on Congress to take up legislation that would change Medicare policies and allow the agency to negotiate the best price for prescription drugs. He’s also asking Congress to establish a cap on the amount that Medicare beneficiaries pay out-of-pocket for drugs. The president said Americans are currently paying two to three times more than prescription drugs than people in other countries.” [8/12/21]

During Address Today, President Biden Lays Out His Vision for Lowering Drug Prices by Allowing Medicare to Negotiate on Behalf of All Americans 

Washington, DC — In an address today, President Biden laid out his vision for lowering the costs of prescription drugs, underscoring that health care is a centerpiece of his Build Back Better agenda. This comes just one day after Senate Democrats took bold action to ensure Americans have access to the health care they need during the coronavirus pandemic and for years to come by passing a budget resolution that includes the health care provisions being put forth by President Biden and Democrats in Congress. The pandemic has laid bare the high costs and alarming inequities in our health care system, and President Biden’s plan is a critical step forward to ensure that health care is a right, not a privilege. 

Addressing the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs is a top concern for Americans from all walks of life at a time when far too many people are struggling to make ends meet. 9 in 10 Americans support giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, including majorities of Democrats, independents, and Republicans. Empowering Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices for all Americans would save patients more than $150 billion and create $500 billion in savings for the federal government that could be reinvested to expand Medicare benefits to include dental, vision, and hearing, lower the cost of health insurance premiums and close the Medicaid coverage gap in the 12 states that have refused to accept expansion.

“It’s unconscionable that Americans pay three times more for their prescription drugs than people in other countries. Americans shouldn’t be struggling to afford their medications all while drug companies rake in massive profits,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “Allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices for all Americans is a win-win: patients and taxpayers save billions of dollars and the savings can be invested into expanding hearing, dental, and vision coverage to seniors, reducing health care premiums for millions of people who purchase insurance through the ACA, and covering more Americans who are currently left behind by closing the Medicaid gap. 

“It’s no surprise that health care and lowering the cost of prescription drugs is at the center of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda. Health care costs are a top concern for families, especially as COVID-19 continues to impact Americans’ everyday lives. The Democratic reconciliation legislation is the right thing to do politically and for families. Voters will hold Republicans accountable for standing by Big Pharma and other special interests and rejecting measures to improve care and lower costs for the American people.”

Ads in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, New Hampshire, and Nevada Thank Senators for Standing Up to Big Pharma, Lowering Health Costs and Expanding Care 

Watch the Ads Here

Washington, DC — Protect Our Care recently launched new digital ads thanking U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) for voting “yes” on the groundbreaking budget resolution that is being hailed as the “most significant expansion of the nation’s social safety net since Medicare and the Great Society.” Along with their Democratic colleagues in Congress and President Biden, these senators are delivering on their promises by seeking to expand Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing, lowering premiums for those purchasing their health coverage through the ACA, closing the Medicaid coverage gap, and lowering prescription drug prices. The pandemic has laid bare the high costs and alarming inequities in our health care system, and this vote is a critical step forward to ensure that health care is a right, not a privilege.

“Senate Democrats have responded with bold action necessary to meet this moment,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “Americans have repeatedly demonstrated the importance of lowering health costs and expanding coverage both at the ballot box and in polling, ranking the issue as their top priority year after year. By holding Big Pharma accountable and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices on behalf of all Americans, we will lower drug costs for millions, expand hearing, dental, and vision coverage to seniors, reduce health care premiums for millions of people, and cover more Americans who are currently left behind. Senate Democrats are fighting in Washington on behalf of all Americans and won’t stop until the job is done.”

SCRIPT:

BREAKING NEWS

Arizona’s Senator Mark Kelly just took the first major step to lower health care costs and expand coverage.

He’s working to give Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices

… fighting to reduce health insurance premiums 

…improving Medicare benefits with dental, vision and hearing coverage for seniors….

…and expanding coverage for millions more who can’t afford it. 

Senator Kelly, keep up the fight and get it done.

Democrats’ Budget Resolution Stands Up to Big Pharma, Lowers Health Costs and Expands Care 

Washington, DC — Today, Senate Democrats have taken bold action to ensure Americans have access to the health care they need during the coronavirus pandemic and for years to come. By passing this groundbreaking budget resolution that is being hailed as the “most significant expansion of the nation’s social safety net since Medicare and the Great Society,” President Biden and Democrats in Congress are delivering on their promises by seeking to expand Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing, extending subsidies for those purchasing their health coverage on the Marketplace, closing the Medicaid coverage gap, and lowering prescription drug prices. Americans have demonstrated the importance of health care reform, ranking the issue as their top priority year after year, and today Democrats have responded with the action necessary to meet this moment. In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:

“The pandemic has laid bare the high costs and alarming inequities in our health care system. Democrats met the moment today by taking a critical step forward to ensure that health care is a right, not a privilege. The health care provisions in this budget resolution are a historic leap forward for lowering health care costs and improving care for millions of Americans. By holding Big Pharma accountable and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices on behalf of all Americans, we’re able to save billions of dollars that can be invested in expanding hearing, dental, and vision coverage to seniors, reducing health care premiums for millions of people, and covering more Americans who are currently left behind. Every Republican Senator put politics over people’s health by voting no and ignoring the wishes of the vast majority of voters. It’s imperative that Congress enacts these provisions this fall to give Americans much-needed relief — it’s not only smart policy but it’s the right thing to do.”

Democrats have taken bold action to ensure Americans have access to the health care they need in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Big steps have been made, but Democrats remain laser-focused on advancing health care access, as demonstrated in today’s release of a $3.5 trillion budget blueprint. This groundbreaking budget resolution is being hailed the “most significant expansion of the nation’s social safety net since Medicare and the Great Society,” and seeks to expand Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing, extend subsidies for those purchasing their health coverage on the Marketplace, close the Medicaid coverage gap, and lower prescription drug prices. Americans have demonstrated the importance of health care reform, ranking the issue as their top priority year after year and today Democrats have responded with the action necessary to meet this moment. In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:

“Health care costs and coverage are at the top of voters’ concerns, particularly because of the pandemic. The health care proposals in this budget resolution are a historic leap forward for lowering health care costs and improving care for millions of Americans. These provisions would reduce the costs of health insurance premiums and prescription drugs by hundreds of billions of dollars, add dental, vision, and hearing benefits to Medicare, and bring Medicaid coverage to millions of Americans who are currently left behind.”

Expanding Medicare To Include Dental, Vision, And Hearing

Lifeline For Seniors. “The megabill would expand Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing benefits (which are mostly or entirely not covered in standard Medicare plans), meaning it could be a huge help to seniors who incur those expenses.” [Vox, 8/9/21]

Including Long Standing Budget Priorities. “The blueprint recommends adding dental, vision and hearing benefits to Medicare, as well as lowering the eligibility age — both longstanding goals of Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who caucuses with the Democrats.” [CNN, 8/9/21]

Reinvesting Savings To Fund Care For Seniors. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders: “We will save taxpayers hundreds of billions by requiring that Medicare negotiate prescription drug prices with the pharmaceutical industry and we will use those savings to expand Medicare by covering the dental care, hearing aids and eyeglasses that seniors desperately need.” [8/9/21]

Extending ACA Subsidies

Ensuring Marketplace Access. “The resolution also calls for extending the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies contained in the Democrats’ American Rescue Plan, which passed in the spring. The subsidies reduce the amount Obamacare enrollees have to pay to no more than 8.5% of their income and make assistance available to more Americans. Also, lower-income policyholders can receive subsidies that eliminate their premiums completely. But the boost in aid is only available this year and next.” [CNN, 8/9/21]

Extending COVID-Era Subsidies. “Democrats also intend to make temporary, pandemic-inspired expansions in subsidies for people getting health care on Obamacare’s individual marketplaces permanent.” [Vox, 8/9/21]

Closing The Medicaid Coverage Gap

Expanding Medicaid Coverage. “Creating a new federal health program for Americans who live in states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. A dozen states have yet to do so…More than 2 million low income adults fall into the coverage gap.” [CNN, 8/9/21]

Providing Coverage To Hold Out States. “There are still 12 states that have not implemented Obamacare’s expansion of Medicaid to more low-income people, and Democrats have committed to ensuring they get coverage in this bill.” [Vox, 8/9/21]

Lowering Prescription Drug Prices

Hundreds of Billions In Savings. “The instruction also calls for lowering the price of prescription drugs, saying it will save hundreds of billions of dollars. Democrats have long pushed to reduce drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices, though some of their peers in the party, as well as GOP lawmakers and the pharmaceutical industry, have opposed it.” [CNN, 8/9/21]

Empowering Medicare Negotiation. “Democrats also plan to empower Medicare to negotiate with the federal government on prescription drug pricing, something that would drive prices down for seniors. It has the added benefit of driving costs down for the federal government, which would help pay for the megabill’s new spending.” [Vox, 8/9/21]

More and more evidence keeps piling up that the American people put lowering health insurance premiums and prescription drug costs at the top of their list of issues for Congress to address. And, more and more proof is piling up that they trust Joe Biden and Democrats to get it done. 

WASHINGTON POST

“This August, Democrats are returning home with a much more focused message. On Tuesday, three Democratic political committees unveiled a plan for how to sell President Biden’s agenda to their constituents, with just three bullet points: middle-class tax cuts; an infrastructure plan to create jobs; and lower health-care costs.

Democratic pollsters tested 150 different messages near the end of July with voters in six battleground states, finding that one theme stood out as the overwhelming winner with voters: “Cutting taxes for middle class families, creating jobs by investing in infrastructure like roads, bridges and high speed Internet, and cutting your health care costs. No one making under $400,000 will pay more taxes.”

DCCC, DSCC and DNC Joint Memo For August Recess

Democrats will highlight how we are lowering costs like health care for the American people: 

• Thanks to President Biden and Democrats’ American Rescue Plan, 4 out of 5 people enrolled in a marketplace plan can now buy health care for $10 or less per month. Now, Democrats are fighting to make those premium reductions permanent – lowering millions of American families’ monthly health care costs — along with proposals that would further reduce the cost of health care, prescription drugs and expenses like elder care and child care.
• Since the Biden administration opened a special enrollment period because of the pandemic, more than 2 million Americans have signed up for health insurance since February.
• Even in the midst of the pandemic, Republicans have continued their efforts to roll back, weaken and eliminate the Affordable Care Act — attempting to spike costs and gut coverage protections for those with pre-existing conditions. Democrats believe that every single American should have access to quality, affordable care.

YouGov Poll

In the latest YouGov national survey, health care was the #1 “very important” issue to the American people. 

ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL

In the latest AP poll, Americans trust “The Democrats” over “The Republicans” on health care by 26-points (47%-21%).

U.S. Representatives Peter Welch, (D-VT-AL), Annie Kuster (D-NH-02), Susan Wild (D-PA-07), VT Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, ME Attorney General Aaron Frey Will Headline “Lower Costs, Better Care” Events in Six States

Washington, DC — On the first week of Protect Our Care’s 8,600-mile, 36-event, 19-state “Lower Costs, Better Care” bus tour, “Care Force One” will make stops in six states to demonstrate the urgent need to lower health costs, expand coverage, and reduce racial disparities in care. During each stop, national and local elected officials, health care advocates and storytellers will promote the work of President Biden and dozens of Democratic lawmakers who are leading the charge to advance American health care and hold Republicans accountable for continuing to reject measures to improve care and lower costs for the American people.

Throughout the nationwide tour, participants will advocate to give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices for all Americans, create a federal solution to close the Medicaid coverage gap, expand Medicare benefits to include vision, dental and hearing, and reduce health insurance premiums by making permanent the provisions of the American Rescue Plan so millions of people can continue to access low-cost coverage.

Watch All Bus Tour Stops Live Here

MONDAY

BANGOR, MAINE:
WHO:
Attorney General Aaron Frey (D-ME)
State Sen. President Troy Jackson
State Rep. Joe Perry
Lee Humphrey, Consumers for Affordable Health Care
Laura Packard, cancer survivor and health care advocate

WHERE: Pierce Park: 145 Harlow Street, Bangor, ME 04401

WHEN: Monday, August 9, 2021 at 10:00 AM ET

PORTLAND, MAINE:
WHO:
State Senator Stacy Brenner
State Rep. Colleen Madigan
Kate Ende, Consumers for Affordable Health Care
Laura Packard, cancer survivor and health care advocate

WHERE: Portland City Hall, ​​389 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04101

WHEN: Monday, August 9, 2021 at 2:00 PM ET

TUESDAY

BURLINGTON, VERMONT:
WHO:
U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT-AL)
State Rep. Taylor Small
Sarah DeSilvey, health care advocate
Laura Packard, cancer survivor and health care advocate

WHERE: Oakledge Park, 11 Flynn Ave, Burlington, VT 05401

WHEN: Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at 12:00 PM ET

WEDNESDAY

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE:
WHO:
U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH-02)
Dr. Nick Perencevich, M.D.
Jay Gupta, Harbor Care’s Director of Pharmacy
Sandra Pratt, health care storyteller
Lisa Beaudoin, health care storyteller
Arnie Arnesen, health care storyteller
Laura Packard, cancer survivor and health care advocate

WHERE: City Plaza: In Front of State House: 107 N Main St, Concord, NH 03303

WHEN: Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at 11:00 AM ET

THURSDAY

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA:
WHO:
U.S. Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA-07)
Laura Packard, cancer survivor and health care advocate

WHERE: Bethlehem City Hall, 10 E Church St, Bethlehem, PA 18018

WHEN: Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 10:30 AM ET

FRIDAY

TEANECK, NEW JERSEY:
WHO:
State Senator Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg
Dr. Aakash Shah, emergency medicine physician and health care advocate
Maura Collingsgru, health care advocate
Laura Packard, cancer survivor and health care advocate

WHERE: TBD

WHEN: Friday, August 13, 2021 at 11:00 AM ET

The Protect Our Care “Lower Costs, Better Care” Tour Continues In:

New Brunswick, New Jersey on Monday, August 16, 2021
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on Monday, August 16, 2021
Burlington County, New Jersey on Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Wilmington, Delaware on Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Dover, Delaware on Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Morgantown, West Virginia on Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Youngstown, Ohio on Thursday, August 19, 2021
Columbus, Ohio on Thursday, August 19, 2021
Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Friday, August 20, 2021
Madison, Wisconsin on Friday, August 20, 2021
Parkersburg, West Virginia on Monday, August 23, 2021
Charleston, West Virginia on Monday, August 23, 2021
Raleigh, North Carolina on Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Charlotte, North Carolina on Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Columbia, South Carolina on Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Savannah, Georgia on Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Orlando, Florida on Thursday, August 26, 2021
Tampa, Florida on Thursday, August 26, 2021
Denver, Colorado on Monday, August 30, 2021
Flagstaff, Arizona on Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Phoenix, Arizona on Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Tucson, Arizona on Wednesday, September 1, 2021
San Diego, California on Thursday, September 2, 2021
Anaheim, California on Thursday, September 2, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, September 3, 2021

For more information on the Protect Our Care “Lower Costs, Better Care” Bus Tour visit https://www.protectourcare.org/bus-tour/.