Assemblyman John McKeon, Health Care Advocates Urge Passage of Health Care Reforms to Build on Success of American Rescue Plan

Last year, New Jersey saw record 20% increase in ACA Marketplace Enrollment

A year ago, Republicans voted against the American Rescue Plan which made health coverage for New Jerseyans more affordable, expanded access,
and helped us better respond to the pandemic 

*Watch the event here*

NEW JERSEY — Today, Assemblyman John McKeon and health care advocates joined Protect Our Care New Jersey to mark the one-year anniversary of the American Rescue Plan by calling on Congress to pass legislation to make many of the law’s health care provisions permanent. The American Rescue Plan – which Democrats passed on March 11, 2021 without Republican support – has put money into the pockets of families struggling to make ends meet, delivered robust funding for vaccine distribution, and helped safely reopen schools and the economy. The American Rescue Plan also lowered the cost of health care coverage for New Jerseyans with enhanced premium tax credits allowing four out of five eligible enrollees to find a plan for $10 or less per month.

In his first State of the Union, President Biden highlighted successful efforts to deliver significant relief to millions of American families. Thanks to Biden’s leadership over 30 million Americans now have health coverage, including a record 14.5 million covered under the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. In fact, New Jersey saw a 20 percent increase in enrollment in the last year. Additionally, the American Rescue Plan has helped 76 percent of Americans receive at least one dose of the vaccine, with 93 million receiving a booster shot to bolster protection against the omicron variant. Democrats continue to work to lower insurance premiums, give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, close the coverage gap, extend Medicare benefits, and improve care for veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities.

“The American Rescue Plan is helping make high-quality health care more affordable and accessible to all New Jerseyans,” said Assemblyman John McKeon. “The law’s enhanced premium tax credits allowed more than 3 million Americans to find a plan for $10 or less per month. While we’re doing everything we can at the state level, Congress must now make the enhanced premium tax credits in the American Rescue Plan permanent for the millions of Americans who were able to access and afford coverage.”

“We need to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to all Americans,” said Laura Waddell, Health Care Program Director, New Jersey Citizen Action. “At a time when we needed it most, the American Rescue Plan lowered premiums for New Jerseyans purchasing coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace and expanded access to financial assistance for more middle-class families. The progress we have seen over the last year is incredible, and I urge our members of Congress to continue to lower health care costs by making the American Rescue Plan’s health care provisions permanent.”

You can watch the event here, and learn more about how the American Rescue Plan has worked for New Jerseyans here.