Everyone knows there’s a lot at stake for health care in this fall’s elections. But the current Congress still has a few months to make progress and set the tone for next year’s Congressional deliberations. Washington’s delegation will be back home in district in August for the summer recess. It’s an important time for Washington’s delegation to learn about key health priorities, such as the Lift the Bar Act for immigrant health, reauthorizing current levels of Exchange premium assistance, addressing disparities in Medicare, and tackling systemic reforms with the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. 

Here’s more on the health priorities we’re watching:

• Lift the Bar Act to Improve Health Equity for Immigrant Communities.  Since 1996, federal policies have denied lawfully present immigrant families access to critical health and social services they need to be healthy and productive, such as Medicaid & CHIP health coverage and SNAP food benefits. An estimated 111,000 Washingtonians are excluded from federal Medicaid & CHIP because of these restrictions. Congress can address this inequity by passing the Lift the Bar Act in a bill package before recess.
• Extend Enhanced Premium Tax Credits to Preserve Insurance Affordability. In 2021, Congress enhanced federal premium tax credits to improve affordability for people who buy their own health insurance through Exchange Marketplaces. This policy has driven record enrollment, reduced uninsurance, and reduced disparities for communities of color and rural communities. If this policy expires in Dec. 2025, Washington’s Exchange estimates that Washingtonians will lose ~$250 million/year in premium help and ~55,000 Washingtonians could lose coverage. Congress can prevent this outcome and ensure a stable insurance market by reauthorizing enhanced premium tax credits before summer 2025. 
• Address Medicare Benefit and Cost Gaps for Older Adults & People with Disabilities. Older adults and people with disabilities face challenges when they join Medicare, including missing benefits– such as dental, vision, and hearing– and high premium and out-of-pocket costs. This Medicare Affordability Cliff is exacerbated by limited eligibility for Medicaid programs that can wrap around Medicare with missing benefits and affordability help. Many join Medicare Advantage plans in search of missing benefits and lower premiums, but later encounter problems (learn more from our friends at Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans). Congress can level the playing field by: (1) expanding dual eligibility for Medicaid to wrap around Medicare by expanding SSI; (2) adding dental and other missing benefits to Medicare; and (3) capping medical out-of-pocket costs in Medicare, taking the next step after the Inflation Reduction Act capped drug costs. 
• Tackle Root Causes of Health Care Costs with the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. Health care costs are increasing so quickly that they are outpacing affordability assistance programs. There was staggering growth in premiums and deductibles from 2002 to 2020, and the problem is getting worse. WA’s individual market premiums rose by 8% in 2023, 9% in 2024, and a proposed 11% in 2025. Congress can take steps to address root causes with policies like the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, which is pending in the Senate. 

We’ll be watching as Congress hits the districts and reconvenes in the fall!