Protect Our Care and Allies Called on Congress to Extend ARP Savings via Press Call, Video, and Social Media
Last week, Protect Our Care partnered with health care activists, advocacy groups, and concerned citizens for an APTC day of action to call on Congress to extend the American Rescue Plan’s enhanced premium tax credits. Protect Our Care hosted a press call with Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD-05) and Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), engaged social media campaigns, and amplified the stories of Americans who will be impacted if Congress fails to act urgently to keep health care premiums low.
President Biden’s American Rescue Plan saved families thousands on their premiums, driving record enrollment and giving people breathing room to pay for other necessities. But the expanded tax credits that powered those savings are set to expire at the end of the year, and as a result, millions will see dramatic increases in their 2023 health insurance premiums — many will no longer be able to afford insurance at all. Last November, House Democrats passed legislation to prevent premiums from skyrocketing at the end of this year. Now, Senate Democrats must extend the premium tax credits to ensure hardworking families can continue to access the health care they need.
PROTECT OUR CARE ACTIVITIES
Throughout May and June, Protect Our Care held events with Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD-05) and Representatives Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Peter Welch (D-VT-AL), Charlie Crist (D-FL-13), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), state and local officials, allies, and health care storytellers to discuss the urgent need for Congress to extend the American Rescue Plan’s enhanced premium tax credits and highlight recent efforts to pass legislation to prevent premiums from skyrocketing at the end of this year. Read more about Protect Our Care’s May and June events.
PRESS CALL: Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD-05) and Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) joined Protect Our Care for a press call to discuss the urgent need for Congress to prevent the American Rescue Plan’s enhanced premium tax credits from expiring. Along with Dr. Jessica Ice, a patient storyteller from West Virginia, speakers laid out the case for why it’s critical to keep premiums low for working families in the face of inflation and rising costs. Listen to the call here.
NEW VIDEO: Protect Our Care released a video, featuring health care storytellers who explained how the American Rescue Plan’s enhanced premium tax credits changed their lives. The storytellers also discussed the dire consequences if Congress fails to act urgently to keep the tax credits from expiring. Watch the full video here.
PARTNER ACTIVITIES
AARP LETTER: Leading health groups, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and AARP, published a letter calling on Congress to extend the expanded Affordable Care Act health care premium tax credits. If Congress fails to act, enrollees’ premiums will increase by double digit levels, resulting in at least 3 million more uninsured Americans who will be unable to afford the care they need. Read the full letter here.
FAMILIES USA: The Advanced Premium Tax Credits… made health insurance more affordable than ever, helped families, and reduced racial disparities. Congress must act NOW.” #APTCDayOfAction [@FamiliesUSA, 6/23/22]
HHS FACT SHEET: The U.S. Department of Human & Health Services released a fact sheet explaining what will happen if Congress allows the premium tax credits to expire. If Congress does not extend the ARP, HHS analysis projects that: the number of uninsured Americans will increase significantly —nearly 3 million Americans could lose their health insurance entirely. Read the full fact sheet here.
INNOVATION OHIO: Last year, Democrats delivered lower health insurance premiums for people who buy insurance on their own. Congress must act NOW to protect the millions on the verge of losing their coverage if the American Rescue Plan’s enhanced premium tax credits expire. #APTC #APTCDayOfAction [@innovationohio, 6/23/22]
JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE DEMOCRATS REPORT: The Joint Economic Committee Democrats released a new report that shows how Democrats cut health care costs and expanded access to affordable health insurance. The American Rescue Plan’s expanded tax credits have already helped 5.8 million Americans newly enroll in free or affordable health plans since the start of the Biden Administration. Congress must act now to extend them. Read the full report here.
NBJC: “Health coverage access is imperative to reducing racial disparities in health coverage across the nation. The American Rescue Plan expanded that access – we CANNOT take that away.” [@NBJContheMove, 6/23/22]
WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE: “Millions of Americans are counting on Congress to extend the #AmericanRescuePlan’s enhanced ACA premium tax credits, which made health coverage more accessible & affordable than ever before. Ways & Means is ready to deliver.” [@WaysMeansCmte, 6/23/22]
