Washington, D.C. — Today, the Treasury Department released a new report showing that nearly 50 million Americans have relied on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for coverage since its passage. This represents one in seven Americans. This year alone, a record 21.4 million Americans enrolled in ACA coverage, with the average family saving $2,400 a year thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. At the same time, another report from the Census Bureau shows the nation’s uninsured rate remains at a historic low of 8 percent. This comes as MAGA Republicans fight to undermine protections for pre-existing conditions, hike premium costs, and gut the ACA. In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:
“The ACA is a bedrock of our health care system. Affordable health insurance means people can go to the doctor when they’re sick and get the screenings and treatments they need to stay healthy. We know what the ACA has done for the American people — not only have 50 million Americans been able to enroll in coverage under the law, but millions more benefit from its protections. Every day, the ACA ensures people with pre-existing conditions can stay covered, it protects women and LGBTQ+ Americans from discrimination in health care, it stops insurance companies from charging older Americans an ‘age tax’, and it helps hardworking families obtain affordable health care without sacrificing other basic needs like food or rent. However, Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans have promised to repeal the ACA and rip away all of its protections and coverage.
“After defending the ACA from years of Republican attacks, Democrats have strengthened the ACA, making coverage more affordable and, in turn, a record number of families have enrolled. We’ve seen the ACA from both sides now: under Donald Trump’s deliberate sabotage campaign, fewer people were able to enroll and millions were left uninsured. Now, with the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to invest in outreach, lower costs, and increase protections, the ACA is working better than ever.”