Thread by @cynthiaccox

🧵 Here's an updated summary of the major health provisions in Build Back Better.
It has changed from the original version, so I'll walk through the current version in this thread 🧵(1/10)
Click the link for more data on potential costs and impact: kff.org/health-reform/…

2/ Build Back Better would boost ACA Marketplace subsidies through 2025 (original version was permanent). Upper/middle income people would not be priced out of coverage and low-income people would get free platinum-like plans, thru 2025. Over a million people could gain coverage.

3/ Build Back Better would create a new Medicare hearing benefit (no longer dental/vision). Hearing aids would be available every 5 years with 20% coinsurance. There are about 36 million Medicare beneficiaries in traditional Medicare who currently lack this coverage.

4/ Build Back Better would lower Rx prices by allowing the govt to negotiate certain Medicare-covered drugs. It would also require drug companies to issue rebates if prices for certain Medicare-covered drugs rise faster than inflation. And it would limit cost sharing on insulin.

5/ Build Back Better would lower seniors' drug costs by creating a cap on out-of-pocket spending of $2,000 for Part D enrollees.
BBB also increases Medicare’s premium subsidy for drug coverage to from 74.5% to 76.5% & reduces beneficiaries' share of the cost from 25.5% to 23.5%.

6/ Build Back Better would close the Medicaid coverage gap through 2025 (not permanently).
There are now 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid. 2.2 million people in these states could receive free ($0 premium) Marketplace plans that cover 99% of a typical population’s cost.

7/ Build Back Better would extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months. Medicaid currently covers half of births but federal law only requires 60 days postpartum. There are 700-800 pregnancy-related deaths annually (Black & Native American women 2-3x higher rates than white)

8/ Build Back Better would permanently expand the Children’s Health Insurance Program. When CHIP was last reauthorized, CBO estimated it would save the federal government money because, without CHIP, other alternatives would have higher federal costs.

9/ Build Back Better would increase federal funding to state Medicaid Home and Community Based Services. Medicaid is the primary payer for long-term care services that help seniors and people with disabilities. To get extra funds, states would have to enhance these services.

10/ Build Back Better would create a universal paid family and medical leave program of 4 weeks (no longer 12 weeks).
Annual earnings up to $15k would be replaced at about 90%, plus 73% of earnings for wages between $15k -$32k, capping out at 53% of earnings for wages $32k - $62k