Washington, DC — Tonight, President Biden delivered his first State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress. During his speech, he stressed the importance of lowering prescription drug and health care costs for working families, expanding coverage to millions by closing the Medicaid coverage gap, fighting corporate greed that puts profits ahead of patients, and addressing the mental health and addiction crisis exacerbated by the pandemic. Along with Democrats in Congress, President Biden is making clear that delivering lower prices and putting more money in families’ pockets remains a top priority for his administration.
President Biden’s State of the Union address comes as Democrats continue to work toward making critical investments to lower insurance premiums, give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, close the coverage gap, extend Medicare benefits, and improve care for veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities. In his first year, President Biden has already brought dramatic relief to millions of American families by reversing Republican health care sabotage, opening a special enrollment period, restoring critical funding in health care education and outreach, and passing the American Rescue plan to make premiums more affordable than ever. Thanks to his leadership and vision, over 30 million Americans now have health coverage because of the ACA, including a record 14.5 million covered under the Affordable Care Act marketplaces.
In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:
“One year in, President Biden has already made remarkable progress by expanding affordable health care coverage and lowering premiums. And tonight he reiterated his commitment to lowering the cost of drugs and making quality health care affordable for every American. For far too long, drug companies and corporate greed have gone unchecked, shamelessly forcing families to make impossible choices between putting food on the table and paying for essential drugs like insulin. As costs continue to rise, it’s more important than ever that Congress prioritize lowering health care prices to reduce everyday expenses for working families and ensure everyone has access to the care they need.”
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