Thread by @TaraStraw

In its first 11 years, the Affordable Care Act has covered 20+M people a year, protected millions more who have pre-existing conditions, and brought a litany of other good things. #ACA11 /thread cbpp.org/research/healt…

The ACA has lowered the uninsured rate for people of all ages, of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, and at all education levels. #ACA11 cbpp.org/uninsured-rate…

And it means that more people than ever before have access to care: they can fill needed prescriptions, see a doctor when they’re sick, and have fewer outstanding medical bills. #ACA11 cbpp.org/aca-substantia…

During a pandemic, the ACA pulled millions through. #ACA11 rwjf.org/en/library/res…

And the ACA has done all of this with one hand tied behind its back: legal and legislative challenges have been a constant and, during the Trump Administration, the threats often came from within. #ACA11

But instead of being repealed, the ACA was strengthened and expanded in the #AmericanRescuePlan. Critical gaps filled, coverage expanded, and costs reduced to help the millions who are enrolled or will newly enroll in the marketplaces.

People at lower incomes are helped, with some getting zero-premium benchmark plans, others seeing lower premiums across the board, and people receiving unemployment benefits getting a big premium break. #ACA11 cbpp.org/research/healt…

People at higher incomes are also helped, which is critical to older people, who in some states might pay premiums of 20-30% of income. #ACA11

Those who like their job-based coverage get help keeping it. And people whose income fluctuated wildly or who might have been handed their retirement savings when they lost a job in 2020 will get a break on repayment of the premium tax credit. #ACA11

There’s more to do. We need to make these coverage improvements permanent, lower deductibles, and fix the “glitch” that leaves some working families saddled with unaffordable premiums, among other priorities. But today, let’s celebrate! #ACA11