As Trump Administration Seeks to Overturn ACA, Pingree Votes to Protect & Expand Health Care Coverage

Press Release

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today voted in favor of H.R. 1425, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act. The legislation, which would make health care more affordable and accessible, passed the United States House of Representatives 234-179.

"Congressional Republicans have voted more than 70 times to undermine the Affordable Care Act--a law that has extended health care access to millions across the country . They've failed every time because Americans rely on the ACA's fundamental protections-- especially now as our nation grapples with a deadly pandemic and widespread loss of employer-sponsored health insurance. It's cruel and non-sensical that amid this crisis, the Trump administration has petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn ACA protections for 130 million people with pre-existing conditions and eliminate coverage entirely for 23 million Americans," said Pingree. "I was proud to vote for the Affordable Care Act during my first term in Congress, and I am proud to vote for H.R. 1425 today to protect and enhance this life-saving law."

H.R. 1425 will expand and strengthen the ACA by reversing Trump administration sabotage, making the ACA marketplace more affordable, encouraging states to expand Medicaid, strengthening protections for those with pre-existing conditions, and addressing health inequities faced by communities of color. The bill also incorporates provisions of H.R. 3, The Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, that would finally allow Medicare to negotiate with drug manufacturers to ensure that seniors are getting the best deal on their prescriptions.

Specifically H.R. 1425 will:

Expand tax credits to lower Americans' Marketplace health insurance premiums and allow more middle-class individuals and families to qualify for subsidies -- for the first time, no person will pay more than 8.5 percent of their income on a silver plan in the Marketplaces:
A family of four earning $40,000 would save nearly $1,600 in premiums each year.
A 64-year-old earning $57,420 would save more than $8,700 in premiums each year.
A single adult with income of $31,900 would see premiums cut in half.
An adult earning $19,140 would see premiums cut to zero, saving $800 dollars a year.
Ensure that families who don't have an offer of affordable family coverage from an employer can qualify for subsidies in the Marketplaces.
Provide funding for reinsurance initiatives to further lower premiums, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs.
Include the transformational drug price negotiation mechanism from the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, (H.R. 3), which delivers immense savings to taxpayers, employers, workers and patients by preventing Americans from having to pay so much more for our medicines than pharmaceutical companies charge for the same drugs overseas.
Press Medicaid expansion hold-out states to reconsider by renewing the ACA's original expanded federal matching for states that adopt the Medicaid expansion and progressively reducing administrative FMAP for those who continue to refuse. More than 4.8 million Americans have been cruelly excluded from coverage because states have refused to expand Medicaid.
Fund critical federal and state efforts to increase health coverage enrollment, educate consumers of their health care rights, and help individuals navigate the health insurance system.
Deliver funding for states who want to establish their own state-based Marketplaces.
Fight the maternal mortality epidemic by requiring states to extend Medicaid or CHIP coverage to new mothers for 1-year post-partum.
Protect vulnerable populations from losing health coverage by ensuring that Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries receive a full 12 months of coverage once enrolled, protecting them from interruptions due to fluctuations in their income throughout the year.
Improve Medicaid beneficiaries' access to primary care physicians, by reauthorizing the ACA's increased payments to primary care physicians who treat Medicaid recipients.
Reverse the Trump Administration's expansion of junk health insurance plans that do not provide coverage for essential medical treatments and drugs, and that are allowed to discriminate against people with pre-existing medical conditions.
Curtail the Trump Administration's efforts to give states waivers to undermine protections for people with pre-existing conditions and weaken standards for essential health benefits.

Source