From Moms Rising (https://www.momsrising.org/):
No matter our race, place, or politics, most of us want similar things: to make a good living, to care for our families, and to have the best chance possible to be healthy. The bottom line is that families need care — health care, child care, and policies that support families to care for each other and thrive. Having access to quality, affordable health care is key to managing the health and financial well-being of our families, but millions of families are facing a crisis if Congress doesn’t act soon! Nearly nine million Americans may see massive insurance premium hikes, and three million people could lose coverage altogether, but Congress can take action now to stop it. [1, 2]
Quick signature at https://action.momsrising.org/sign/aptc_2022: Tell Congress to make the American Rescue Plan subsidies permanent to ensure hardworking families can continue to access the health care they need.
What’s happening? Last year, Democrats in Congress delivered lower health insurance premiums for people who buy insurance on their own by guaranteeing coverage that costs less than 8.5 percent of income. [3] Millions of enrollees were able to enroll in a quality plan for $10 or less, and families saved an average of $2,400 a year on our insurance premiums. [4] Because of these lower premiums, more than 14.5 million Americans enrolled in health coverage on the ACA marketplaces in 2021 — an all time high for the nation. [5]
For so many, this access to care means the peace of mind knowing that a medical emergency will not result in bankruptcy, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that EVERYONE needs health care. However, millions of families are facing massive price hikes—and millions more will no longer be able to afford insurance at all—if the expanded tax credits are allowed to expire this year.
Families are already facing mounting financial hardships on multiple fronts. We have a child care crisis, skyrocketing housing prices, crippling student loans, and soaring inflation due to supply chain issues and labor shortages caused by COVID—and we need our leaders to act! In addition, under the Affordable Care Act and enhanced subsidies through the American Rescue Plan, racial and ethnic disparities in health coverage have improved; and we must protect the gains we’ve made while continuing to work toward reducing these disparities and improving affordability and access for everyone. [6] Only Congress can prevent dramatic health care premium increases and widespread coverage loss by making the American Rescue Plan’s tax credits permanent NOW.
When you click, you can sign on to our petition that reads:
Dear Congress,
Families across the country are facing financial hardship on multiple fronts. The bottom line is that families need care — health care, child care, and policies that support families to care for each other, participate in the workforce, and thrive. Adding a massive health care price hike is something we need you to prevent by extending the Advanced Premium Tax Credits that were passed in the American Rescue Plan. We need you to take action NOW and ensure the subsidies don’t expire and health insurance premiums don’t increase.
Polling shows that voters overwhelmingly support making the American Rescue Plan’s premiums permanent. If Congress fails to act, more than 3 million people will become uninsured and 9 million Americans will be forced to pay significantly higher rates for their health care coverage. We urge you to make the American Rescue Plan subsidies permanent to ensure hardworking families can continue to access the health care they need.
The more people who speak out, the bigger our impact. Please take a moment to share our action link with your friends and family: https://action.momsrising.org/sign/aptc_2022
Together we are a powerful voice for the health of families.
P.S. Does your family have a health care story? Tell us about it!
[1] U.S. DHHS, Projected Coverage and Subsidy Impacts If the American Rescue Plan’s Marketplace Provisions Sunset in 2023[2] Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Marketplace Pulse: The Coming Coverage Cliff—Some States Have a Lot to Lose
[3] U.S. DHHS, Fact Sheet: The American Rescue Plan: Reduces Health Care Costs, Expands Access to Insurance Coverage and Addresses Health Care Disparities
[4] The White House, Statement by President Biden on 4.6 Million Americans Gaining Health Insurance This Year
[5] Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Record Marketplace Enrollment Result of Policymakers’ Renewed Commitment to Health Coverage
[6] U.S. DHHS, HealthCare.gov Marketplace Enrollment During the 2021 Special Enrollment Period by Race and Ethnicity
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