Protect Our Care: Democrats Mark ACA's 10-Year Anniversary, Highlight Ongoing Threats to Law in Midst of Coronavirus Crisis

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Protect Our Care issued the following news on March 24:

Yesterday, Democrats in both chambers reflected on the 10-year anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Members stressed the overwhelming benefits of the ACA including quality affordable coverage for 20 million American and protections for 135 million with pre-existing conditions among many other provisions and protections. And many Democrats, especially those who ran and won on health care in 2018, were quick to highlight the existential threats to the ACA from the Trump administration and Republicans' court case to overturn the law at a time when the country is in the midst of the coronavirus crisis and Americans are more concerned than ever about their health care.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi Said "Thank God For The Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act." "'We couldn't need it more in terms of this pandemic,' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on a call yesterday hosted by the Democrat-connected group Protect Our Care. 'As we prayerfully go into this further discussion on the coronavirus challenge, thank God for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.'" [Washington Post, 3/24/20]

Speaker Nancy Pelosi: 10 years ago, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, because we believe health care must be a right, not a privilege. Today, Americans know their coverage is protected thanks to the ACA - coverage they need now more than ever. #ProtectOurCare

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer: Democrats were proud to pass the #ACA 10 years ago, and thanks to the expansion of Medicaid, 17 million Americans gained coverage. It's deeply concerning the Trump Administration continues to seek to undermine this program, but Democrats will continue to #ProtectOurCare.

Majority Whip James E. Clyburn: Today is the 10th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. Without the ACA, millions of Americans will lose their health care coverage, & protections for people with pre-existing conditions will disappear. Now, more than ever, Americans need access to affordable health care.

Ways & Means Chairman Richard Neal: On #ACA10, let us remember the #ACA protects pre-existing conditions for 975,000 MA residents, has reduced premiums by 11% for MA residents for those receiving premium tax credits, and has reduced the uninsured population by 96,810 people in our state.

Energy & Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone: 10 years ago today, the #ACA was signed into law. I am honored to have helped draft this landmark legislation. The #COVID19 pandemic has been a sobering reminder of the importance of access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

Education & Labor Chairman Bobby Scott: Today is the 10th anniversary of the ACA. The Trump Administration must end its lawsuit, which would strike down the law as well as pre-existing condition protections for 130 million Americans, especially amid the #COVID19 pandemic. #ProtectOurCare #ACA10

Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Ranking Member Patty Murray: The Affordable Care Act expanded access to affordable, quality health care for millions of patients. But since day one in office, President Trump & the GOP have worked to undermine the protections people rely on most. For #ACA10, here 10 of their health care attacks.

Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden: Ten years ago today the Affordable Care Act became law. Since then, we've seen countless reminders about why it's so important that every American has access to quality, affordable care. Few of these reminders has come as swiftly as the #COVID19 outbreak.

Senator Bob Casey: THREAD: Over the past 10 years, the #AffordableCareAct has helped millions of working families, seniors and people with disabilities. Yet the Trump Admin is trying to sabotage the #ACA - in the middle of a pandemic. Here's what's at stake if Republicans refuse to #DropTheLawsuit:

Senator Debbie Stabenow: The Affordable Care Act has helped millions of people in Michigan since President Obama signed it 10 years ago today. #ACA10

Senator Mark Warner: Today marks the ten-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. I don't even want to think about the problems we'd be having right now if the ACA hadn't provided coverage and protections for pre-existing conditions to millions of Americans.

Rep. Colin Allred: As the nation grapples with the spread of #COVID19, protecting the Affordable Care Act is more important than ever. Since my first day in Congress, I've been working hard to defend the #ACA and its critical protections, like those for folks with pre-existing conditions. #ACA10

Rep. Angie Craig: Despite massive layoffs and a global pandemic, the Administration is continuing their lawsuit that threatens millions of Americans' health coverage. Today is the 10th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, and I am once again urging the administration to #ProtectOurCare.

Rep. Sharice Davids: 20+ million Americans have gained health coverage since the Affordable Care Act became law ten years ago. Now more than ever, we must not turn our back on them. #ProtectOurCare

Rep. Abby Finkenauer: It's the 10th anniversary of the passage of the #ACA, and it is more important than ever that we expand and protect it. The GOP is STILL suing to overturn the ACA, and if they win, the uninsured rate in Iowa will double. That's unacceptable. #IA01

Rep. Lizzie Fletcher: Today marks 10 years since the #AffordableCareAct became law. 60,000 people in #TX07 get their insurance through the marketplace, including those with pre-existing conditions. #COVID19 underscores the role that health care plays in our lives, & I'll continue to #ProtectOurCare.

Rep. Susie Lee: Since becoming law in 2010, the #AffordableCareAct has improved health care for millions of Americans. As our nation faces an unprecedented public health crisis, it's more important than ever to protect our health care, especially for Americans w/pre-existing conditions. #ACA10

Rep. Lucy McBath: Ten years ago, the #AffordableCareAct became law. It now covers over 20 million Americans & protects more than 133 million people living with pre-existing conditions. Now more than ever, we must protect & expand access to affordable, quality health care. #ForThePeople

Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Today, on the 10th anniversary of Affordable Care Act, in the midst of #COVID19 pandemic, I'm calling on President Trump to drop his lawsuit that would destroy this law. The #ACA is helping us to combat the spread of the #coronavirus by ensuring tests & treatments are covered.

Rep. Chris Pappas: In these unprecedented times, the Affordable Care Act - signed into law 10 years ago today - is needed more than ever. I called on @SecAzar to establish a Special Enrollment Period for patients to get ACA marketplace coverage during this pandemic #ACA10

Rep. Haley Stevens: Quality, affordable health care is a right. 10 years after its passage, the #AffordableCareAct expanded coverage to over 20M more Americans and protects over 133M Americans with pre-existing conditions. I have and always will fight to #ProtectOurCare. Full stop. #ForThePeople

Rep. Xochitl Torres Small: 10 years ago, the #AffordableCareAct became law. The challenges our community face today with the current public health emergency underly the importance of access for all New Mexicans.

Rep. Lauren Underwood: 10 years ago, the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, expanding health care coverage to over 20 million Americans & protecting people living with preexisting conditions. More than ever, it's critical that we all work to expand access to quality, affordable health care.#ACA10

Coverage of the ACA's 10-Year Anniversary:

The Root: The Affordable Care Act Turns 10 Today. We Cannot Turn Back The Clock On Black Women's Reproductive Health And Rights. "Since the ACA was enacted, the proportion of black women of reproductive age without health insurance fell by 36 percent, and 30 percent of black women who were previously uninsured are now enrolled in Medicaid. The ACA's policies meant more women of all races had insurance, and more of their health needs were covered than ever before. Sexual and reproductive health care for people of all genders improved under the ACA, and women's lives are better for it. As of 2015, at least 15 million black women gained access to guaranteed no-cost birth control. And for women having children, the ACA was a significant improvement. Maternity care must be covered as an essential health benefit by individual market health plans. Prior to 2013, just 12 percent of plans on the individual market included maternity benefits. The infant and maternal mortality rates declined in states that expanded Medicaid under the ACA, especially among black babies and women." [The Root, 3/23/20]

Rep. Jan Schakowsky In The Hill: America's Small Businesses Are Thriving, Thanks To The Affordable Care Act. "Hundreds of thousands of businesses have benefited from the ACA, and their successes are felt nationwide. With each growing small business, communities are strengthened, jobs are created, and America's competitive advantage is reinforced. On this milestone anniversary, we have so much to celebrate. The ACA is at its highest approval rating since passage, with a majority of the American public in support. But if we are not vigilant, the Trump administration will undo this progress as they push their agenda to sabotage the ACA." [The Hill, 3/23/20]

Rep. Dina Titus in the Las Vegas Sun: "Now Is The Time To Strengthen And Fight For The Affordable Care Act" "Now more than ever, Nevadans are relying on the access to quality, affordable health care provided by the Affordable Care Act. The Trump administration's obsession with sabotaging this landmark achievement -- particularly as our nation grapples with the deadly coronavirus outbreak -- is irresponsible and cruel. The Affordable Care Act has drastically improved the U.S. health care system over the past 10 years. At this critical time for so many patients, Trump should stop trying to destroy it." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/23/20]

Laura Packard In USA Today: "Ten Years After The ACA Was Born, On March 23, 2010, We Need Leaders Who Will Fight To Protect Our Care." "Republicans including my senator, Cory Gardner, voted again and again for repeal without any protections for the most vulnerable and installed activist Supreme Court justices determined to strip our care. They could be working on making health care more affordable and accessible to all, and lowering the cost of prescription drugs. Instead they focus on pushing junk insurance plans, ratcheting up work requirements to strip health care away from low income people, and dismantling the protections of the ACA for all. In this moment, we can see that our health care system was last on their priority list. Now, in the time of coronavirus, it's more clear than ever that when a health care system does not work for some of us, it fails us all. Ten years after the ACA was born, on March 23, 2010, we need leaders who will fight to protect our care. Some of us will not survive without it." [USA Today, 3/22/20]

Politico: "Obamacare Is Still Very Much With Us, And In Many Respects Its Stronger Than It's Ever Been." "Obamacare is still very much with us, and in many respects is stronger than it's ever been -- unless the latest lawsuit kills it...Despite turbulence around the law -- the repeal efforts, the court challenges, the early HealthCare.gov struggles -- the marketplaces seem to have stabilized. That's largely thanks to its generous insurance subsidies, which have created a reliable base of customers shield from high premiums." [Politico, 3/22/20]

Andy Slavitt In USA Today: Affordable Care Act At 10: Amid Coronavirus, Never More Popular, Threatened Or Necessary. "The Republican plan to repeal the ACA without a replacement has been exposed for its absurdity. Imagine 21 million people losing coverage now. Health coverage wouldn't have prevented the spread of the virus, but with 20-60% of Americans who could potentially get COVID-19, guaranteeing affordable coverage for people with preexisting conditions and other ACA protections are looking like just the basics we need to dig out of this." [USA Today, 3/23/20]

New York Times: The ACA "Greatly Expanded Coverage." "When it was passed, nearly a quarter of Americans (22.3 percent) between 18 and 64 were uninsured. By 2016 -- just two years after the law's insurance marketplaces opened and states were allowed to expand Medicaid to more low-income people -- that rate had plunged to 12.4 percent. In all, about 20 million more people have coverage now than before the law." [New York Times, 3/23/20]

* New York Times: The Results Of Medicaid Expansion Have Been "Significant." "Still, all but 14 states have now expanded the program, and the results have been significant: Medicaid enrollment increased by about 13 million, or 34 percent, in the so-called expansion states between 2013 and 2019, according to federal data. The uninsured rate for poor adult citizens with no dependent children -- a group that had often been ineligible for Medicaid -- plummeted, dropping to 16.5 percent in 2015 from 45.4 percent in 2013, according to the Urban Institute." [New York Times, 3/23/20]

* New York Times: "As The Coronavirus Sweeps Through The Country, Many State Officials Are Relying On The Affordable Care Act To Provide Health Coverage For Residents Who Have None." "Now, as the coronavirus sweeps through the country, many state officials are relying on the Affordable Care Act to provide health coverage for residents who have none. On Friday, California became one of the latest states to set up a special enrollment period so people can sign up for insurance on their state-run marketplaces, and the Trump administration is considering reopening enrollment in the larger federal marketplace, which serves most states, for a limited period." [New York Times, 3/23/20]

* New York Times: "The Law Has Also Played An Important Role In Keeping Care Affordable For The 160 Million Americans Who Get Coverage From An Employer." "The law has also played an important role in keeping care affordable for the 160 million Americans who get coverage from an employer, including by requiring those plans to cover the children of beneficiaries until age 26. Before the law, employer-provided plans often set strict limits on what they would pay toward medical bills during a single year and over a lifetime. An estimated 105 million Americans had some sort of lifetime cap before the passage of the health care law. The A.C.A. outlawed those limits." [New York Times, 3/23/20]