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.

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.  

Related
Hoyer Statement on the Trump Administration's Latest Attempt to Sabotage Americans' Access to Affordable, Quality Health Care
After trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act twice and launching a campaign of sabotage against it over the past two years, the American people delivered a sharp rebuke to President Trump and Republicans for their efforts to undo the critical health care reforms Democrats put in place. 
Democrats Prepare for Democratic Majority in 116th Congress
Last week, the American people elected a Democratic Majority in the House of Representatives, resulting in the most diverse Congress in history.
Hoyer Discusses Democratic Priorities for the 116th Congress on CNN’s At This Hour
I think what the American people voted for, just last week, was a change in policies, not so much personalities or people, but a change in policies.
Hoyer Statement on the FDA’s Effort to Reduce Underage Vaping and Smoking
I appreciate the steps being taken by the Food and Drug Administration to protect young Americans from the harms of vaping with today's announced rule banning the sale of flavored vape liquids. 
Hoyer: The American People Will See President Trump’s Op-ed for What It Is: A False And Desperate Attempt to Forestall a Huge Electoral Loss
The American people will see President Trump’s op-ed for what it is: a false and desperate attempt to forestall a huge electoral loss – an attempt that will not work.
Hoyer Statement on the Senate Confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court
Today’s confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh is the result of a partisan, hypocritical process that Republicans implemented to achieve their political ends at the expense of an independent and impartial Supreme Court.
Hoyer Statement on House Passage of Bipartisan Opioid Legislation
I am pleased that Democrats and Republicans were able to come together today to pass legislation to address our nation’s opioid crisis. 
Hoyer Statement on the Appointment of Dr. Leana Wen as the new President of Planned Parenthood
I join in congratulating Dr. Leana Wen on becoming the new president of Planned Parenthood.
Republicans Fail to Address Critical Priorities, While Democrats Focus on Policies For the People
This week, the House returned to session with another potential crisis created by President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ failure to fund government.
Hoyer Statement on the Beginning of Oral Arguments in Republicans' Lawsuit to Strike Down Protections for Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions
Not content with their efforts to dismantle health care coverage legislatively and by executive actions, Republicans are now trying to use the courts to end guaranteed coverage for those with pre-existing conditions.