Rep. Pappas and Advocates Headline “Lower Costs, Better Care” Bus Tour Stop in Portsmouth
Tuesday, October 04, 2022
Portsmouth, NH— This afternoon, Protect Our Care’s Care Force One stopped at Portsmouth’s Prescott Park to highlight how the Inflation Reduction Act’s measures are lowering premiums and prescription drug costs for millions of Americans. The legislation can work to reduce racial inequities in health care, improve care for seniors, strengthen families, and save lives. During today’s event, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), the NH Public Health Association, Granite State Progress, MomsRising, and advocates explained how the new law lowers premiums for 13 million Americans, gives Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices/lowers prescription drug prices for seniors, delivers relief to people with disabilities, people of color, and rural Americans and how Granite Staters can access these savings.
Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) said “The action that we took in Washington comes at an important time when drug companies continue to make profits at the cost of New Hampshire people. The Inflation Reduction Act will cap healthcare costs at $200 per year for Medicare users, limit insulin copays to $35, and offer free vaccines for Medicare and Medicaid users. We want to ensure that people are safe, and constrain the profits that pharmaceutical companies are making with high drug prices. This legislation will cap the rate of inflation and apply penalties if companies charge prices that outpace the inflation rate, extend premium subsidies for ACA plans, families in New Hampshire won’t see an increase in healthcare rates. "
Healthcare is a right and not a privilege. It is crucial that we continue to ensure that the care people need is within reach, that we continue to lower healthcare costs, and take on the power of pharmaceutical and insurance companies. We look forward to keep working on these important issues for as long as we’re in Washington.
Zandra Rice Hawkins of Granite State Progress, said “Beginning in 2024, the Inflation Reduction Act also eliminates the current 5 percent patient coinsurance cost for Part D catastrophic coverage and expands eligibility for Part D low-income subsidies. These, in addition to the already mentioned cap on out of pocket costs, are a real game changer for families facing serious health conditions, many of whom regularly spend thousands of dollars on prescription drug costs.”
Nancy Glynn with MomsRising, said “I feel fortunate that I was able to access the health care I needed because I work for an employer that walks the talk. But really, no one’s health should depend on that. Healthcare is a human right, and it’s past time we treated it as such. The Inflation Reduction Act is a historic step forward.”
Joan Jacobs, breast cancer patient & senior on Medicare, said “The cost of prescription drugs for Medicare Part D enrollees has been a particularly difficult challenge for seniors on Medicare. Under the recently signed Inflation Reduction Act, seniors on Medicare have many reasons to rejoice. The act provides a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare Part D enrollees, which allows patients to save money and also better plan for medical expenses; something that is especially helpful for those on fixed incomes.”
Health care advocate Ansley Womble said, “I am grateful to hear our elected officials are prioritizing access to health care. Because they did this in the past, our family was covered during a stressful time. Because of their continued support, more Granite State families like mine will be able to sleep a little easier knowing that healthcare isn’t something they have to worry about.”
Protect Our Care NH State Director Jayme Simões said, “Rep. Chris Pappas and the New Hampshire Delegation fought to pass this bill and recognized that relief for the American people was possible. The Inflation Reduction Act will lower the cost of prescription drugs, make premiums more affordable, and strengthen health care for everyone in New Hampshire.”
“The Affordable Care Act saved my life,” said Laura Packard. “Five years ago I walked into the doctor’s office with a nagging cough and walked out with a stage four cancer diagnosis — but I was lucky. I had good insurance through the ACA that paid for the chemotherapy and radiation that I needed. Now, the Inflation Reduction Act has made health insurance more affordable for millions of Americans like me. Through this landmark legislation, President Biden and Democrats in Congress capped premiums at 8.5 percent of our income and lowered prescription drug costs, paving the way for more affordable health care for years to come."
Tomorrow, the “Lower Costs, Better Care” bus tour will continue to Concord - where Protect Our Care will be joined by Congresswoman Annie Kuster. For more information, please visit protectourcare.org/bus-tour/.
You can watch the event here.
Protect Our Care’s Care Force One will make stops in:
Bangor, Maine on Monday, October 3, 2022
Portsmouth, New Hampshire on Monday, October 3, 2022
Concord, New Hampshire on Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Hartford, Connecticut on Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Allentown, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Scranton, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Burlington County, New Jersey on Thursday, October 6, 2022
New Brunswick, New Jersey on Thursday, October 6, 2022
Harrisburg/Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Friday, October 7, 2022
Morgantown, West Virginia on Friday, October 7, 2022
Cincinnati, Ohio on Monday, October 10, 2022
Cleveland, Ohio on Monday, October 10, 2022
Flint, Michigan on Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Lansing, Michigan on Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Green Bay, Wisconsin on Wednesday, October 12, 2022
La Crosse/Eau Claire, Wisconsin on Thursday, October 13, 2022
St. Paul, Minnesota on Thursday, October 13, 2022
Des Moines, Iowa on Friday, October 14, 2022
Kansas City, Missouri on Friday, October 14, 2022
Reno, Nevada on Monday, October 17, 2022
Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Flagstaff, Arizona on Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Phoenix, Arizona on Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Tucson, Arizona on Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Albuquerque, New Mexico on Thursday, October 20, 2022
Pueblo / Colorado Springs, Colorado on Thursday, October 20, 2022
Denver, Colorado on Friday, October 21, 2022
Richmond, Virginia on Monday, October 24, 2022
Raleigh, North Carolina on Monday, October 24, 2022
Charlotte, North Carolina on Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Augusta, Georgia on Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Savannah, Georgia on Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Orlando, Florida on Thursday, October 27, 2022
Tampa, Florida on Thursday, October 27, 2022
Miami, Florida on Friday, October 28, 2022
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