UNI24032 Pennsylvania 4

MAKING HEALTHCARE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR PENNSYLVANIANS

President Biden has made healthcare one of his administration’s top priorities.

Under the joint leadership of President Biden and Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, landmark legislation was passed to deliver affordable healthcare, lower prescription drug costs, expand Medicaid, and strengthen the Affordable Care Act. This collaborative effort demonstrates their commitment to working together to benefit working families.

Let’s delve into how President Biden’s policies make it easier for all of us to afford the healthcare coverage and prescriptions we need. These policies are not just about numbers; they are about improving the lives of all Pennsylvanians.

President Biden’s policies have brought about a monumental change in healthcare coverage for Pennsylvanians. Over 1.6 million individuals in the Commonwealth are covered under the ACA, with 419,000 new enrollments in 2024 alone.

Sources: Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 3/20/2024; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 1/24/2024

I’m a diabetic and a retired nurse. One of Biden’s policies [the Inflation Reduction Act] changed my life… Because of the $35 copay cap, my expenses have significantly decreased. Now, I can access vital medications without sacrificing other essentials, compromising my well-being, or going bankrupt.”

Source: Keystone Newsroom, 5/24/2024

—STEVEN L., RETIRED ICU NURSE

BIDEN AND CASEY: EXPANDING HEALTHCARE

PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK ON BIG PHARMA AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE COSTS OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, HELPING SENIORS AFFORD THEIR LIFESAVING MEDICATIONS BY:

y Capping insulin copays for Medicare Part D beneficiaries at $35 per month, providing significant relief for seniors

y Empowering Medicare to negotiate drug costs, starting with ten of the most widely used and expensive prescription drugs that treat critical conditions such as heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases

y Ensuring our healthcare system is actively working to provide the best possible care at affordable prices

y Starting in 2025, effectively limiting out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions to a maximum of $2,000 per year

Sources: PBS Newshour, 1/16/2024; NPR, 8/12/2022; CNBC, 8/16/2022

Thanks to Senator Bob Casey’s instrumental role in passing the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), President Biden and Senator Casey have strengthened Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This resulted in significant relief from the high costs of prescription drugs and health insurance premiums and lowered healthcare costs for millions by $800 annually. Now, President Biden wants to make those savings permanent.

PRESIDENT BIDEN DELIVERED ON HIS PROMISE TO PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN THE ACA, EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE COVERAGE TO A RECORD 21.3 MILLION AMERICANS BY:

y Eliminating the cap on eligibility for ACA coverage to allow more individuals and families to qualify

y Subsidizing COBRA payments for people who lost their jobs or whose hours were reduced

y Allowing family members to purchase ACA coverage when employer-provided healthcare is too expensive

y Capping premium payments so no individual pays more than 8.5% of their income for healthcare

Sources: Politico, 3/5/2024; AFL-CIO, 3/11/2021; Kaiser Family Foundation News, 1/18/2023

To check if you are eligible for ACA benefits, visit healthcare.gov/screener

HEALTHCARE COVERAGE AND LOWERING COSTS

SENATOR BOB CASEY: ENSURING VETERANS GET THE CARE THEY DESERVE

Senator Casey passed the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, a bipartisan bill signed by President Biden. It provides long overdue and comprehensive health benefits to veterans who have suffered toxic exposure to burn pits or other toxins while serving our country.

Senator Casey sponsored the PACT Act because the more than 20,000 Pennsylvania veterans—and more than 100,000 veterans nationwide—who fought for our country should not have to fight for the care they deserve. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee named the bill after Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson, who deployed to Kosovo and Iraq with the Ohio National Guard. After returning home, doctors diagnosed him with an autoimmune disorder and late-stage lung cancer—both associated with burn pit exposure. SFC Robinson passed away in May 2020. He was 39 years old.

REPUBLICANS PLANNING TO CUT HEALTHCARE COVERAGE FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS

Donald Trump and Republicans plan to eliminate President Biden’s progress on affordable healthcare. Trump has said, “Obamacare is a disaster, we want to terminate it.”

They want to reward their wealthy corporate donors, boost profits for drug and insurance companies, and force millions to lose their healthcare coverage by:

y Hiking up health insurance premiums

y Denying coverage for people with pre-existing conditions

y Banning Medicare from negotiating for lower costs

y Forcing seniors to pay thousands more out-of-pocket for their prescription drugs

More veterans and their families in Pennsylvania are likely eligible for these expanded benefits. The PACT Act is one of the most significant expansions of veterans’ benefits and healthcare in the VA’s history.

Sources: U.S. Congress, H.R. 3967, 6/17/2021; U.S. Congress, H.R. 3967, Roll Call #230, 6/16/2022; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 3/5/2024 and 5/24/2024; Penn Live, 3/28/2024; Lehigh Valley News, 4/8/2024; Ohio Department of Veterans Services, accessed 5/17/2024

Contact your local Office of Veterans Affairs or the VA at 800-698-2411 to check your eligibility. For additional information, visit va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits

This would mean over 100 million Americans would lose protections for pre-existing conditions.

Sources: Associated Press, 11/27/2023; Axios, 9/11/2023; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/20/2023; Protect Our Care, 6/6/2023; Trump White House Archives, 10/10/2020

Bob Casey’s Burn Pits Bill Passes U.S. Senate

ABC 27, 2/17/2022

Square, PA 19348

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SENATOR BOB CASEY: PROTECTING PENNSYLVANIANS’ HEALTH AND COMBATING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC

Senator Casey is focused on combating the opioid epidemic, which continues to devastate families across Pennsylvania. He is working to provide the resources our families and communities need to save lives and support loved ones who are fighting substance use disorders by:

y Expanding and protecting Medicaid, which is crucial in increasing access to treatment

y Providing law enforcement with resources to target the criminal networks that produce and distribute fentanyl

y Supporting legislation to fund and implement evidence-based treatment and intervention programs

Sources: Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 3/16/2023; KDKA News, 4/24/2024; U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, 12/15/2023

To access substance use disorder treatment and resources, visit health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Opioids or call the Get Help Now hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Paid for by In Union USA (www.inunionusa.com) and not authorized

Help is available for Pennsylvanians with substance use disorders and their loved ones 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.