Securing affordable healthcare coverage for all people will strengthen our recovery moving forward. As Congress considers the next reconciliation package, we encourage you to pay attention to health care provisions that the President incorporated in his proposed budget:

• $163 billion to make permanent the temporary expansion of health insurance premium subsidies in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA).  ARPA increased premium subsidies for people insured through Exchange health insurance plans with income up to 400% poverty and added caps of 8.5% for exchange premiums for those with higher incomes.  In Washington alone, an estimated 79,200 uninsured individuals became newly eligible for subsidies, of whom 10,100 are now eligible for coverage at $0 premiums.
• $400 billion to expand Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS). HCBS helps people age in place, assisting with self care including eating, bathing, and preparing meals for people whose health or functional needs require help with these tasks; this investment would strengthen the home care workforce.
• Allowing Medicare to negotiate payment for high-cost drugs to lower these costs
• Increasing Medicare benefits to include dental, hearing and vision coverage
• Extending coverage in states that have not expanded Medicaid by providing $0 premium Medicaid-like coverage 
• Creating a public option that would be available through the ACA marketplace

You have an opportunity to voice your support for the final item: Washington’s very own Senator Murray and New Jersey Representative Pallone are requesting information on how to design a public option to lower healthcare costs — responses are due July 31!