Access to Health Coverage Means Access to Care: Patient Groups Urge Congress to Include Affordability Measures in Next Legislative Package

May 6, 2021, WASHINGTON, D.C. – 32 organizations representing millions of people with pre-existing conditions urge Congress and the Administration to prioritize health care policies in the next legislative package. 

“As organizations representing patients with serious and chronic conditions, we applaud the Administration’s efforts to expand access to affordable health coverage. Today, it is simply impossible for most people to afford health care without health insurance. Though the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) helped bring affordable health care to millions, more must be done. Quality and affordable health care remains out of reach for millions. 

 Consumers continue to grapple with the health and economic uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients face an urgent need for bold reforms to our health care system that will serve their needs not just for the duration of the pandemic – but for generations to come. 

The Biden Administration and Congress must seize this unique moment and protect patients with pre-existing conditions in the next legislative package addressing health care. Our groups greatly appreciate the inclusion of advanced premium tax credits (APTCs) in the American Families Plan and continue to urge the Administration and Congress to take bold action on behalf of patients, including: 

 

  • Permanently codifying increased eligibility and generosity of APTCs;
  • Limiting patients’ out-of-pocket health care costs; 
  • Addressing obstacles to affordable employer-sponsored coverage, including fixing the family glitch; and 
  • Strengthening Medicaid coverage, including expanding continuous eligibility. 

These off-the-shelf policies have been thoroughly evaluated and are ready to go. It is time for policymakers to make the promise of affordable health care a reality. 

Our organizations, and the patients we represent, are counting on Congress and the Administration to deliver on each of these much-needed policy reforms. We stand ready to work with policymakers and be allies in this much-needed work. 

Alpha-1 Foundation 

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network 

American Diabetes Association 

American Heart Association 

American Kidney Fund 

American Liver Foundation 

American Lung Association 

Arthritis Foundation 

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America 

Cancer Support Community 

CancerCare 

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 

Epilepsy Foundation 

Family Voices 

Hemophilia Federation of America 

Mended Hearts & Mended Little Hearts 

Muscular Dystrophy Association 

National Alliance on Mental Illness 

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship 

National Health Council 

National Hemophilia Foundation 

National Kidney Foundation 

National Multiple Sclerosis Society 

National Organization for Rare Disorders 

National Patient Advocate Foundation 

Primary Immune Foundation 

Pulmonary Hypertension Association 

Susan G. Komen 

The AIDS Institute 

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 

United Way Worldwide 

WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease