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

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.

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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

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The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Gold-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.