Thanks to ACA, health care is more affordable

This March, we celebrated the 14th anniversary of one of the most landmark health care laws passed in our lifetimes, the Affordable Care Act. As the chairs of our respective health committees in the General Assembly, we are tasked with considering every bill impacting health policy in Virginia.

This year, our Democratic majorities passed bills that build on the progress of the ACA by lowering health care costs, including for prescription drugs (although a bill to create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board was unfortunately vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin). We also rejected legislation, including a near-total abortion ban, that would undermine the work done to date to make health care accessible and affordable.

Over the last few months, Virginia transitioned from healthcare.gov to a new, state-operated health insurance marketplace, thanks to a provision in the Affordable Care Act empowering states to run their own marketplaces and a 2020 law sponsored by Del. Mark Sickles and now-Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan that directed the commonwealth to create the Virginia Health Benefit Exchange. The numbers for the first year are in, and we are excited to report on its success. Here in Virginia, our brand-new, state-based health exchange had a great kick-off with more than 400,000 people enrolled, which is a nearly 14% increase from the previous year.

These impressive numbers are due to collaboration across all levels of government. Thanks to the federal Inflation Reduction Act, health care premiums are lower, with nearly 80% of enrolling individuals finding coverage that is $10 or less per month. President Joe Biden has invested in outreach and education to increase enrollment across the country, including in rural areas, in communities of color, and among people who identify as LGBTQ+.

At the state and local levels, we have provided the team at the Virginia Health Benefit Exchange with the tools to support Virginia families in finding plans that meet their needs. Additionally, we ensured intentional and impactful coordination across agencies such as the Department of Medical Assistance Services and the Department of Social Services. This coordination helped those who were no longer eligible for Medicaid to transition with ease to coverage through the exchange. Of the more than 400,000 people we helped connect to insurance plans, nearly 90% of enrollees qualified for financial assistance, such as premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, to help make their plans more affordable.

Unfortunately, some efforts at the national level continue with the goal of undermining all these successes, including former President Donald Trump's threat to repeal the Affordable Care Act if elected. Access to comprehensive, affordable health insurance is critical now more than ever. Without coverage, people stay sick for longer periods of time or end up in emergency rooms while racking up massive debt. If successful, some of these efforts will disproportionately hurt marginalized communities and worsen many public health crises, including Black maternal mortality and the opioid epidemic.

We are committed to doing our part to protect the ACA by working with our congressional delegation to ensure the stories of our constituents are heard in the halls of Congress. Just as importantly, we are advancing policies that build on the ACA.

For example, we sent a budget to the governor's desk that makes historic investments in federally qualified health centers, improves Virginia's Medicaid program and lowers the cost of prescription drugs. The budget passed by the General Assembly is significantly stronger than the budget Gov. Youngkin presented this past December, which prioritized tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy over much-needed investments in health services. As Democrats continue negotiations with the governor, we will stand strong in our commitment to keep substantial funding for health care in the final budget. To be clear, we will reject any efforts to undermine the progress made in recent years to expand access to quality, affordable care.

As we celebrate the anniversary of the ACA and the record enrollment in Virginia through our new state-based health exchange, we also reflect on all that we must continue to do over the next few years to ensure that health care is a right for all, not a privilege for a select few.

Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, chairs the Senate Education and Health Committee. Contact Hashmi at senatorhashmi@senate.virginia. gov. Del. Mark Sickles, D-Fairfax, chairs the House Health and Human Services Committee. Contact Sickles at info@ marksickles.com.