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On Friday, ahead of the 14th anniversary of the landmark Affordable Care Act (ACA), U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, AL-07, celebrated its historic progress in lowering health care costs for Alabama families and vowed to continue building on its success. The ACA was signed by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010.
“Fourteen years after the Affordable Care Act was signed, more Americans have health insurance than at any time in history. Meanwhile, millions are benefitting from record-low premiums and no one can be charged more for having a pre-existing condition,” said Rep. Sewell. “Despite the relentless efforts by Republicans to repeal the ACA, President Biden and Democrats are committed to building on its success and continuing to lower costs. Last year, we capped the cost of insulin at $35 per month for seniors and starting in 2025, no senior will be charged more than $2,000 per year for out-of-pocket prescription drug costs.”
“Access to quality, affordable health care should be a right—not a privilege for the few,” continued Sewell.“We must keep working to improve the ACA and ensure every American gets the coverage they need.”
In August 2023, the uninsured rate in the U.S. reached an all-time low of 7.7 percent. Shortly after, the 2024 open enrollment period shattered records with a historic 21.3 million Americans and 386,195 Alabamians signing up for health care coverage through the ACA exchange.
Rep. Sewell has continued to champion health care accessibility for Alabamians. She was the only member of Alabama’s Congressional Delegation to vote in favor of the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act which lowered monthly premiums by enhancing the ACA’s premium tax credits. Thanks to these policies, Americans are saving an average of $2,400 per year on health care premiums.
In Congress, Rep. Sewell is leading legislation to save Alabama’s rural hospitals, bring more medical professionals to underserved communities, and ensure that seniors have access to cutting-edge cancer screenings.
