U.S. Senator Tina Smith, U.S. Reps. Angie Craig and Dean Phillips, MNsure CEO Nate Clark Join Protect Our Care on Nationwide Bus Tour to Celebrate The Inflation Reduction Act’s Historic Measures to Drive Down Health Care Costs for Minnesotans
St. Paul, MN— This afternoon, Protect Our Care’s Care Force One arrived in St. Paul to highlight how the Inflation Reduction Act’s measures will lower premiums and prescription drug costs for millions of Americans. The groundbreaking legislation works to reduce racial inequities in health care, improve care for seniors, strengthen families, and save lives. During today’s event ,US Senator Tina Smith, US Representatives Angie Craig and Dean Phillips, and MNsure CEO Nate Clark explained how the bill lowers premiums for 13 million Americans, gives Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, lowers prescription drug prices for seniors, and how Minnesotans can access these savings.
“When we were first elected to Congress in 2018, our health care system was on life support,”said Representative Dean Phillips. “The Affordable Care Act narrowly survived repeal at the hands of President Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress. Americans with pre-existing conditions were under constant threat of being denied coverage and the tax credits helping tens of thousands of Minnesotans purchase health insurance were at risk of being eliminated or drastically reduced. 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.”
“It was great to be part of Protect Our Care’s stop in St. Paul today to celebrate the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act, which will help millions of Americans save money on prescription drugs and access affordable health care coverage,” said Senator Tina Smith. “No one should have to decide between affording their medications or a doctor’s visit and paying their bills. This is going to save lives by saving people money, and we did it without the help of a single Republican.”
“Under the Inflation Reduction Act, we have unleashed the power of 50 million seniors, and empowered Medicare to start negotiating better prices on our prescription drugs,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar, who celebrated the effects of the Inflation Reduction Act in Minnesota via remarks read on her behalf at the event. “The new law also extends enhanced ACA tax credits that keep down monthly premiums, making more Minnesotans – approximately 85,000 altogether – eligible for big savings.”
Representative Angie Craig said, “In August, Democrats unanimously passed the Inflation Reduction Act – making historic reforms and long-overdue improvements to our health care system. The passage of this legislation means reduced health care costs for thousands of Minnesotans – and we got it done while every single Republican in Congress voted against it. The bill will lower health care costs by extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits for three years, capping monthly copays of life-saving drugs, such as insulin, lowering prescription drug prices and protecting Americans on Medicare from Big Pharma’s exorbitant price hikes. This is a big deal for Minnesota seniors and working families.”
“Because of the Inflation Reduction Act, MNsure projects that eligible Minnesotans will save up to $284 million dollars on lower premiums in 2023, keeping an average $560/month in consumers’ pockets,” said MNsure CEO Nate Clark. “This legislation will reduce costs for thousands of families across our state and increase access to crucial health services like ER visits, children’s check-ups, and cancer screenings that are always covered by plans sold on MNsure.org.”
“When I became a Medicare member in 2014, a three-month supply of Humira cost more than $1,400 after insurance,” said AARP member Ken McInnis. “By February of 2021, that price increased by 245 percent. My share increased to three thousand, sixty dollars and 65 cents. That’s a 38.5 percent increase per year in my out-of-pocket costs. And that’s only one prescription. The Inflation Reduction Act will save me and thousands of others like me important dollars on our prescription drug costs.”
Tomorrow, the “Lower Costs, Better Care” tour will continue in Des Moines, Iowa, and in Kansas City, Kansas where Protect Our Care will be joined by Congresswoman Sharice Davids. For more information, please visit protectourcare.org/bus-tour/.
You can watch the event here.
Protect Our Care’s Care Force One will make stops in:
Bangor, Maine on Monday, October 3, 2022
Portsmouth, New Hampshire on Monday, October 3, 2022
Concord, New Hampshire on Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Hartford, Connecticut on Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Scranton, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, October 5, 2022
New Brunswick, New Jersey on Thursday, October 6, 2022
Marlton, New Jersey on Thursday, October 6, 2022
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Friday, October 7, 2022
Morgantown, West Virginia on Friday, October 7, 2022
Columbus, Ohio on Monday, October 10, 2022
Cleveland, Ohio on Monday, October 10, 2022
Flint, Michigan on Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Lansing, Michigan on Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Green Bay, Wisconsin on Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Eau Claire, Wisconsin on Thursday, October 13, 2022
St. Paul, Minnesota on Thursday, October 13, 2022
Des Moines, Iowa on Friday, October 14, 2022
Kansas City, Kansas on Friday, October 14, 2022
Reno, Nevada on Monday, October 17, 2022
Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Flagstaff, Arizona on Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Phoenix, Arizona on Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Tucson, Arizona on Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Albuquerque, New Mexico on Thursday, October 20, 2022
Boulder/Fort Collins, Colorado on Thursday, October 20, 2022
Denver, Colorado on Friday, October 21, 2022
Richmond, Virginia on Monday, October 24, 2022
Raleigh, North Carolina on Monday, October 24, 2022
Charlotte, North Carolina on Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Augusta, Georgia on Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Savannah, Georgia on Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Orlando, Florida on Thursday, October 27, 2022
Tampa, Florida on Thursday, October 27, 2022
Miami, Florida on Friday, October 28, 2022
TBA: October 31-November 4, 2022