December 2, 2023
Dear Friends,
Improving our nation’s health care system has long been a top priority of mine. During my first year in Congress, I was deeply proud to join my colleagues in advancing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to insure the highest number of Americans in history, and thanks to ongoing efforts by Democrats, those numbers continue to reach record highs.
Despite the numerous, life-changing benefits this legislation has delivered for American families, Republicans are still trying to strip away access to affordable, accessible health care from millions of Americans.
Just this week, Donald Trump renewed his attacks against the ACA, calling on Republicans in Congress to push for its reversal. A repeal would be disastrous for American families, clawing back coverage for countless individuals, stripping away protections for tens of millions of people living with pre-existing conditions, and enabling insurance companies to deny basic care, be it through prescription drugs or hospital visits.
But, while Republicans work to eat away at the progress we have made to improve our health care system, Democrats are stepping up our efforts to ensure every American has access to quality affordable care.
In fact, thanks to transformational provisions in our Inflation Reduction Act, along with other key legislation, Capital Region families are saving thousands of dollars in health care costs each year. Thanks to this law:
- Capital Region residents who enrolled in marketplace health insurance coverage through the ACA will save an average of $2,420 in premiums this year.
- A family of four in our district with a household income of $75,000 could save $3,216 in premiums this year.
- 10,200 Medicare beneficiaries in the Capital Region receiving insulin will have their monthly copayments for insulin products capped at $35 per month.
- More than 1.1 million New Yorkers will save an average of $390 per year on prescription drug costs when new policies, including the $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap on Medicare prescription drug costs, go into effect in 2025.
These are massive and important strides to improve health and health care for our communities. But we know there is still much more to be done to protect and strengthen our nation’s health care system and ensure families have the resources they need to keep themselves and their families safe and healthy. One issue on which I’ve heard deep concern from parents in our Capital Region is access to RSV and COVID vaccines for young children. Families across the district have spoken of shortages preventing them from accessing these vaccines for babies, toddlers, and pregnant individuals. This week, I took action to share their concerns with Congress.
I sent a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alongside two of my colleagues, both of whom are pediatricians, to share this pressing concern. The following day, I questioned CDC Director Mandy Cohen about this shortage and highlighted anecdotes from constituents in our Capital Region who are looking for answers. I’m grateful to those who have shared their insights, and I’ll continue to do all I can to address this vaccine shortage and ensure your children are protected.
Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve worked to advance legislation that improves health outcomes for all Americans, through addiction and recovery efforts, prescription drug cost supports for seniors, investments in mental health care, and more. With increasingly alarming attacks from Republicans who plan to eviscerate Medicare, repeal the ACA, and implement a nationwide abortion ban, protecting and strengthening our health care system has never been more critical. On that front, I remain as committed as ever to continue this fight on behalf of the American people.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations from federal agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- In the midst of the holiday season when families are gathering together, I’m encouraging all in our district to get their COVID-19 vaccine in addition to their annual flu shot and RSV immunization.
- The Biden-Harris Administration has made historic progress in our nation’s ability to manage COVID-19 so that it no longer meaningfully disrupts the way we live our lives.
- Further, we have more tools and systems available to help protect yourself and your family as you head into the holidays, including:
- Safe vaccines for all three major fall and winter respiratory viruses – COVID, flu, and RSV
- Widely available at-home COVID tests — available at COVIDTests.gov
- Remember: Even if you’re uninsured, you can still get a free COVID-19 vaccine before the holidays through the Bridge Access Program. Learn more HERE.
