September 2022

New polling from Navigator confirms broad support for the Inflation Reduction Act, especially the role it will play in driving down health care costs for the American people. Headlines highlighting Medicare drug price negotiation power and the reduction of senior citizen health care costs are seen as most positive impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act. In general, 67% of Americans support the Inflation Reduction Act plan.

American’s are hearing good things and support the Inflation Reduction Act:

Headlines mentioning the health care aspects of the Inflation Reduction Act are the most well received:

Reducing health care costs seen as the most positive and believable aspect of the Inflation Reduction Act:

Read more here.

Washington DC — Today, Protect Our Care is kicking off week three of the Inflation Reduction Act theme weeks, which focuses on how the bill reduces health care premiums for 13 million families purchasing coverage on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces. On average, families will save thousands of dollars a year on health care, giving them much-needed breathing room to pay for other essentials like rent, groceries, and gas. These savings will help Americans from all walks of life: middle class families, older adults, rural Americans, people of color, and more. 

“The Inflation Reduction Act is a game changer for folks purchasing coverage on the ACA marketplaces,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “It’s not surprising that as costs have come down, ACA enrollment has reached an all-time high. This is only possible because of the leadership of President Biden and Democrats in Congress — and their decade-long effort to protect and enhance the ACA. Despite the millions of people who rely on the ACA for affordable coverage, Republicans have unanimously opposed every measure to enhance the health care law, and they have vowed to repeal The Inflation Reduction Act if they take control of Congress. This would only harm millions of Americans and burden them with higher costs, and it would force some to lose their coverage altogether.  Fortunately, the American people who overwhelmingly support these provisions and our health care champions on both ends of Pennsylvania  Aveneue won’t allow that to happen. ” 

Throughout the week, Protect Our Care will continue to release fact sheets and host nationwide events with elected officials, storytellers, and health care advocates to highlight the Inflation Reduction Act’s critical measures to drive down health care and prescription drug costs.

Inflation Reduction Act Themed Weeks:

• Week 1: GOP Accountability. Week one focuses on how every Republican lawmaker in Congress stood by Big Pharma and other special interests and voted against lower health care costs for the American people.
• Week 2: Seniors. Week two is bringing attention to the Inflation Reduction Act’s provisions to lower prescription drug costs for millions of seniors. 
• Week 3: Lower Health Care Premiums. Week three focuses on how millions of Americans will save on their health care premiums thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. 
• Week 4: Cancer. The final week highlights how patients fighting serious diseases like cancer stand to save thousands of dollars a year on their health care costs. 

FACT SHEET: The Inflation Reduction Act Drastically Lowers Premium Costs For Millions Of Americans

President Biden and Congressional Democrats fought tirelessly to pass the Inflation Reduction Act and reduce the cost of health insurance for millions of Americans and expand coverage.  As a result, about 13 million Americans who buy insurance on their own will see savings, with an average family of four saving $2,400 a year. Three  million of Americans will not lose their existing coverage because they could no longer pay their premiums. The Inflation Reduction Act will reduce racial inequities in health care, strengthen families, and save lives.  It is particularly important as Americans manage their family budgets through inflation. It’s no surprise that these provisions are incredibly popular with the American people, no matter where they live or their political party.

Help Is On The Way In 2023:

• 13 million Americans will save on their health insurance premiums.
• $2,400 in average annual savings per family on health insurance premiums.

Read the full fact sheet here.

Over the last two weeks, Protect Our Care hosted events and published opinion pieces across the nation with national lawmakers and health care advocates to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act, historic legislation that will lower prescription drug costs and health insurance premiums for millions of Americans. These measures will deliver long-overdue relief to working families and seniors, and it will address the deep racial inequities in our health care system. Last month, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, overcoming unified Republican opposition and record lobbying from Big Pharma and other special interests to finally put people over profits. More information on The Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. 

HEADLINES

(GA) Georgia Public Broadcasting: Georgia’s Budget Is a ‘Snapshot of Our Morals and Values,’ Advocates of Medicaid Expansion Say. August 28, 2022 marks a full decade since Georgia’s first refusal to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. “We can and we must use the unprecedented resources at our disposal to fully expand Medicaid and get access to life-saving care for hundreds of thousands of veterans, working parents, frontline workers, and other fellow Georgians,” said Leah Chan, Senior Health Policy Analyst with Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. [GPB News, 8/28/22]

(MI) WNEM: Genesee Health Plan Highlights Savings From Inflation Reduction Act. A Michigan retiree who cares for her disabled daughter and a health care advocate today joined Congressman Dan Kildee of Flint to raise awareness about the health care benefits and savings for ordinary Michiganders from the Inflation Reduction Act. ‘Access to lifesaving care should not cost Michigan families and seniors their life savings. For decades, Big Pharma stood in the way of any progress to lower prescription drug prices. But with the Inflation Reduction Act, we took on the drug companies and won. Medicare will be able to negotiate lower drug prices, we cap out-of-pocket costs for seniors at $2,000 a year, and the price of insulin for seniors is capped at $35 a month. This legislation will have a real impact to lower costs for Michigan families and seniors,’” said Congressman Kildee. [WNEM, 8/23/22] 

(WV) WKKX Radio Interview with Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach sat for a live interview with Rocky Fitzsimmons from the Legislative Watchdogs program on WKKX Radio to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act, historic legislation that will lower prescription drug costs and health insurance premiums for millions of Americans.” [WKKX, 8/24/22]

(WI) Wisconsin Examiner: Advocates Unpack the Details in New Climate, Health and Tax Law. “This legislation extends for another three years higher subsidies for people who buy health insurance through the federal exchange created under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). More than 187,000 Wisconsin residents will save money as a result, according to Protect Our Care, an ACA advocacy group.” [Wisconsin Examiner, 8/31/22]

(WI) Channel 3000: Local Leaders Tout Impact of Inflation Reduction Act on Drug Prices “State Sen. Melissa Agard and Fitchburg Mayor Aaron Richardson on Tuesday touted the impacts the Inflation Reduction Act is expected to have on health care. Representatives from a number of groups, including Opportunity Wisconsin, Family Friendly Wisconsin, For Our Future Wisconsin and Protect Our Care Wisconsin, took part in Tuesday’s news conference.” [Channel 3000, 8/30/22]

OPINION PIECES

(CO) Colorado Politics Op-Ed on the Inflation Reduction Act by Gail Devore, Colorado Resident With 1 Diabetes for More Than 50 Years. “Thanks to this legislation, families will save thousands on their health care premiums. Last year, many of us who buy insurance on our own noticed our health care premiums went down after Democrats in Congress passed legislation guaranteeing coverage that costs less than 8.5% of income. These tax credits in the American Rescue Plan allowed millions of enrollees to find a quality plan for $10 or less per month and saved families an average of $2,400 a year on our insurance premiums.” [Colorado Politics, 8/26/22]

(MN) MinnPost Op-Ed on the Inflation Reduction Act by Congresswoman Craig and Congressman Phillips. “We promised to help because our constituents urgently needed change, and this summer, when we passed the Inflation Reduction Act, we delivered on that promise. At the end of the day, this isn’t a partisan issue – it’s just common sense: every American should be able to access and afford the medication they need to live.” [MinnPost, 9/1/22]

(NH) Concord Monitor Letter to the Editor on the Inflation Reduction Act by POC NH State Director Jayme Simoes. “The legislation also includes measures that will lower health care premiums for millions by extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) financial assistance for three years. Sadly, Republicans in Congress blocked a critical provision that would cap insulin costs at $35 per month for millions of diabetics with insurance. As many as one in four of the 7.5 million Americans dependent on insulin are skipping or skimping on doses, which can lead to death. The contrast is clear. Between fighting to lower health care costs and expanding affordable coverage to working families, our congressional delegation is working tirelessly to lower everyday costs for all Americans,” writes Simoes. [Concord Monitor, 8/21/22]

(NH) New Hampshire Union Leader Op-Ed on the Inflation Reduction Act by Granite Stater Gene Faltus: “Protect Our Care New Hampshire placed an opinion piece written by Granite Stater Gene Faltus in the New Hampshire Union Leader highlighting how the prescription drug provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act will benefit seniors in New Hampshire. ‘I can’t overstate how much this legislation will help me. With more than two dozen prescriptions to treat the cancer, multiple cardiac conditions, non-insulin dependent diabetes, and temporal arteritis, I end up paying around $5,000 out of pocket halfway through the year. After I leave the doughnut hole, I enter catastrophic coverage and pay 5% of my prescription costs until the end of the year. Prescription costs rise every year, but this year I expect my out-of-pocket costs to exceed $7,000. The Inflation Reduction Act will change my life, and the lives of millions of Americans like me, who rely on expensive medications to stay alive.’” [New Hampshire Union Leader, 8/21/22]