Congresswoman Susie Lee, Sean O'Donnell from the Foundation For Recovery, and Travis Brock, an enrollee of the Affordable Care Act, participated in a discussion organized by Protect Our Care Nevada. During the discussion, they talked about how the people of Nevada benefit from better health coverage and reduced healthcare costs brought on by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The speakers discussed how strengthening the Affordable Care Act and expanding benefits for Medicare enrollees through the Inflation Reduction Act makes quality healthcare accessible to more Nevadans.
The Department of Health and Human Services reported a record 15.3 million Americans have signed up for health insurance through the ACA, which is a 33 percent increase from one year ago at the same time.
"Last year, a record 16.3 Million Americans signed up for healthcare during the open enrollment period, and nearly 100 thousand are Nevadans. And of those, 1 in 5 have signed up for their very first time, and around one in 10, get this, pay zero dollars in monthly premiums," explained U.S. Rep (D-Las Vegas) Suzie Lee.
Lee says the ACA prevents vulnerable Americans with pre-existing conditions from being blocked from getting coverage. Lee is a champion for ACA because of her lived personal experience.
"My father lost a job when he was 56. years old one month and was not able to get the type of employment that provided health coverage. One month before my mother turned 65, she suffered a major heart attack. The cost of her care at the hospital was roughly the same amount as the value of their home. Because they did not have access to health insurance because they both had a pre-existing condition, the hospital was threatening to basically take ownership of their home," explained Lee.
House Republicans, on the other hand, have tried to repeal the ACA more than 50 times. We spoke to Heritage Foundation Center for Health and Welfare Policy Senior Research Fellow Bob Moffit to understand the conservative ACA perspective. Moffit argues that the ACA has reduced competition in the health insurance marketplace and has yet to lead to the bend in prices that it was intended to bring since its initial passage in 2013.
"It limits the choice that you have of different types of health insurance; as I say, competition in the system has declined. Plan options have declined, choice has therefore declined, and it has not controlled cost," said Heritage Foundation Health and Welfare Studies Senior Research Fellow Bob Moffit.
Meanwhile, Affordable Care Act enrollee Travis Brock says that the ACA allowed him access to healthcare and prescription medications during one of the most challenging periods in his life.
"In March of 2020, Nevada Health Link once again proved invaluable in a tough situation. My employer at the time had a presidential campaign which ended abruptly in March just as the global pandemic was taking hold," said Affordable Care Act enrollee Travis Brock.
Lee says the ACA has been instrumental in providing life-saving treatment to countless Americans.
"I have constituents who used to tell me their son couldn't take insulin; it was so expensive, so they cut their dosage in half. That's life-threatening to Americans, so despite the fact that there is an effort by extreme right-wing Republicans to tear apart the Affordable Care Act, and there have been many attempts in Congress, bill after bill after bill, it hasn't happened. And, it hasn't happened because of advocates like everyone here," said Lee.
Congresswoman Lee discussed two pieces of legislation: the "Health Insurance Transparency Act," which simplifies plan comparisons, and a bill to support youth with addiction.
