On 1st Year Anniversary of Expansive Pandemic Relief, Senator Reverend Warnock Celebrates Success of Efforts to Strengthen Affordable Health Care for Georgians, Highlights Continued Push to Lower Health Care Costs

Statement

U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined Protect Our Care to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the American Rescue Plan, which made health care premiums more affordable than ever. The Senators discussed the steps Congress can take now to further lower Americans' health care costs, including capping insulin prices, reducing how much Georgians and Americans are paying for prescription drugs, and strengthening access to free and affordable health care. Georgia resident and insulin user Teresa Acosta also shared her personal story about the importance of the American Rescue Plan's investments in health care.

As a longtime champion of affordable health care, Senator Reverend Warnock introduced the Affordable Insulin Now Act that would limit out-of-pocket insulin costs to $35 per month for millions of diabetics with insurance. He also introduced theCapping Prescription Costs Act which would ensure no individual would pay more than $3,000 and no family more than $6,000 per year for prescription drugs. Senator Warnock continues the fight to close the Medicaid coverage gap in Georgia and Wisconsin through the Medicaid Saves Lives Act, co-sponsored by Senator Baldwin.

"I've been fighting to improve Georgians' access to affordable, quality health care long before I got into office. The American Rescue Plan, which lowered premiums and increased health care access for Georgians, was the first of many solutions that I've fought for in the Senate. In the past year, I've introduced legislation to cap the price of insulin at $35 a month and lower out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs. I've also fought to close the Medicaid coverage gap and provide free and affordable coverage to over 640,000 Georgians," said Senator Reverend Warnock. "I'm grateful to Protect Our Care, today's storytellers, Teresa and Mary, and my partner in this important fight, Senator Baldwin. As Georgians and Americans work to recover from the pandemic, I'm going to keep fighting to make sure the federal government is doing its part to lower rising costs for hardworking Georgia families and small businesses."

"My 12-year-old, Bauer, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes just after his 6th birthday," said Teresa Acosta, patient storyteller from Georgia. "When the pandemic hit, I had to be laid off. I was scared to be losing my income and health insurance in the middle of a pandemic, but thanks in part to the American Rescue Plan's child tax credits and increased ACA premium subsidies, my family and I were able to keep our heads above water. I ended up enrolling my family on a plan through the Healthcare Marketplace exchange. This was a subsidized plan, which made it possible to afford insulin and the technology we rely on to keep Bauer healthy. The way I see it, the health care measures in the American Rescue Plan not only rescued me but invested in me, allowing me to follow my American Dream and start a business."

"A year ago, President Biden signed the historic American Rescue Plan to improve our nation's health and economic wellbeing by putting money in people's pockets, strengthening our economy, and tackling the high health insurance costs. Since then, a record 14.5 million Americans enrolled in affordable health insurance through the ACA, and families are saving an average of $2,400 a year on their care," said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. "However, the work is not finished. We must continue lowering health care costs by passing legislation to reduce the cost of insulin, give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower prices and make the American Rescue Plan's health care provisions permanent."

Source