Health Care
House Democrats are committed to expanding access to quality, affordable health care coverage, strengthening protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and lowering prescription drug prices and the cost of health care overall.
Under President Biden and Congressional Democrats, the uninsured rate is at an all-time low. While Republicans vote against legislation to lower health care costs, House Democrats are working to bring down the overall costs of health care and increase access to health care coverage.
With the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, House Democrats took direct action to reduce health care costs for millions of Americans. For the first time, Medicare will be able to negotiate prescription drug prices for high-cost drugs. The law also caps out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients at $2,000 annually and establishes a $35 cap for a month’s supply of insulin. The Inflation Reduction Act also protects progress made under President Biden to expand access to quality, affordable health care coverage by continuing the expanded premium tax credits originally passed in the American Rescue Plan, which lowered health care premiums for millions of working families.
This built upon the Affordable Care Act – enacted by President Obama and Congressional Democrats in 2010 – that has put American families in control of their own health care and ended a system that put profits ahead of patients. Since its enactment, 35 million Americans have gained access to quality, affordable health coverage. Americans with pre-existing conditions can no longer be discriminated against by insurance companies. Parents can now keep their children on their insurance plans up to age twenty-six. Insurance companies are no longer allowed to put annual or lifetime limits on coverage or drop people when they get sick. Additionally, thanks to the law, Medicare costs – from premiums and deductibles to overall program spending – have slowed to well below the levels projected before the law passed.
These reforms were crucial, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic struck but more action was needed. That’s why House Democrats worked to enact legislation right away - without any Republican support - to ensure that testing, treatment, and vaccinations for COVID-19 would be covered with no out-of-pocket costs to Americans.
House Democrats remain committed to the goal of affordable, accessible health care for all.
Today’s report reiterates what has already been clearly demonstrated: Republicans’ Select Investigative Panel to attack women’s health has wasted more than $1.5 million in taxpayer money and countless hours of Congress’s time trying to manufacture a controversy that does not exist.
This week, I was pleased to receive the support of my colleagues and be elected by acclamation as Democratic Whip for the 115th Congress.
World AIDS Day is a time to reflect on those lost to this horrible disease and recommit ourselves to the work of ending it.
It is shameful that House Republicans would continue to waste taxpayer money on their partisan witch-hunt, whose clear goal has been to yield political gains for Republicans.
The legislation passed today by the House represents a step forward for improving health care in our country, but only if Republicans follow through on their commitment in the months and years ahead to boost investments in medical research and public health.
I want to thank my friend Rep. Sandy Levin for his service as Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Committee and, previously, as its Chair.
I am deeply concerned by Majority Leader McCarthy’s remarks today that Republicans intend to repeal the Affordable Care Act and take health coverage away from 20 million Americans without having a plan to replace the law.
The nomination of Chairman Tom Price to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services raises red flags.
Starting today, Americans can browse affordable health insurance plans and sign up for coverage through the health insurance marketplaces.
"Starting today, Americans can browse affordable health insurance plans and sign up for coverage through the health insurance marketplaces. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, more Americans than ever before are able to purchase insurance coverage, and most consumers can still find plans with premiums of less than $75 a month. The law has also put an end to legal discrimination by insurance companies against women and those with pre-existing conditions, and those under the age of twenty-six can remain covered through their parents' plans.
"Congress must continue working to improve the Affordable Care Act to bring costs down and raise the quality of care. The recent news of double-digit increases in premiums for some covered through the marketplaces was alarming, and Democrats are ready to sit down with Republicans to reach bipartisan solutions. But we can't turn back the clock, as some Republicans would prefer, and return to the days when millions more were unable to afford insurance and when consumers could lose their coverage when they became sick. Democrats will continue to stand up to those who wish to repeal or undermine health care reform rather than working to improve upon it.
"For those who are not yet covered or wish to shop around for a better plan, visiting www.HealthCare.gov is a great way to get started. Consumers can also use the site to see whether they are eligible for tax credits to help them afford coverage – even if they were not eligible in previous years, they might be eligible for 2017. One can also access information and purchase coverage by calling 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325). The deadline to sign up for coverage that begins January 1 is December 15, and the last day to enroll for coverage in 2017 is January 31. I encourage everyone to explore their options and get covered."
As Congress prepares to adjourn at the end of the week, it’s clear that the Republican-led 114th Congress has become yet another closed, unproductive, do-nothing Congress.