Rep. Manning Celebrates 12 Years of the Affordable Care Act, Fights to Lower Health Care Costs

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Rep. Kathy Manning, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release:

On the twelfth anniversary of the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, Congresswoman Manning is highlighting how this life-saving legislation has expanded access to quality, affordable health insurance in North Carolina and across the country.

"Today, I'm celebrating the twelfth anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, more than 670,000 North Carolinians have access to health care, dependents can stay on their parent's insurance until age 26, and people with pre-existing conditions are protected from coverage discrimination," said Congresswoman Manning. "I've worked to build on this progress by introducing and co-sponsoring legislation to close the Medicaid coverage gap, decrease racial and economic disparities in health care, and lower the cost of prescription drugs."

Democrats' American Rescue Plan built on the Affordable Care Act and further lowered health care costs for North Carolina families. Passed last year amid the health and financial challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, this legislation:

* Is saving families an average of $2,400 in annual premiums.

* Has helped enroll a record 14.5 million Americans in marketplace plans - including 134,420 North Carolinians, a 25%increase from last year.

Despite this historic progress, Republicans are still openly threatening

to repeal the Affordable Care Act if they win majorities in Congress. Repealing the Affordable Care Act would end health coverage for over 600,000 North Carolinians, terminate protections for pre-existing conditions, and spike costs for working families.

Instead of threatening to end the ACA, North Carolina Republicans should join 39 other states by expanding Medicaid and extending health care coverage to an estimated 400,000 hardworking North Carolinians who fall in the coverage gap.

Congresswoman Manning is committed to expanding access to health care, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, and decreasing racial and economic disparities in the health care system. Congresswoman Manning has co-sponsored and introduced the following legislation to improve the United States' health care system:

* Medicaid Saves Lives Act: Congresswoman Manning co-led the introduction of the Medicaid Saves Lives Act, which would allow people in states that have refused to expand Medicaid to enroll in a federally-funded Medicaid-style program that provides full benefits.

* Capping Prescription Costs Act: Congresswoman Manning introduced legislation that will take proactive steps to protect Americans from rising prescription drug costs by limiting cost-sharing for prescriptions under marketplace health plans and group health plans to $250 per month for an individual and $500 per month for a family.

* Advancing Maternal Health Equity Under Medicaid Act: Congresswoman Manning introduced new legislation to expand access to vital health services during and after pregnancy for people with Medicaid coverage, to advance reproductive and maternal health justice, and to save lives. This legislation would increase the federal reimbursement rate for states that increase their spending on maternal health services under Medicaid.

Congresswoman Manning continues to work in Congress to make improvements to the United States' health care system so that care can be more affordable, accessible, and equitable.