Norcross Votes to Lower Prescription Drug Prices, Make Health Care Affordable

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) voted yes today to pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act – legislation that builds on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to lower health costs and prescription drug prices. Today’s vote comes days after the Trump Administration filed a brief asking the Supreme Court to strike down the entirety of the ACA.

“I’ve been working hard with my colleagues in Congress to defend and strengthen the Affordable Care Act while the President relentlessly tries to tear down the law and its protections for people with pre-existing conditions,” said Congressman Norcross. “Americans are demanding and deserve bold action to lower health costs and prescription drug prices – and this bill does just that.”

Norcross added: “In Congress, I’m working to lower the cost of health care for South Jersey families, and that work is more important than ever during this public health crisis. I urge President Trump to drop the dangerous lawsuit to destroy the ACA in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.”

The bill significantly increases the ACA’s affordability subsidies to be more generous and cover more middle-class families. For the first time, no person will have to pay more than 8.5 percent of their income for a benchmark silver plan in the ACA marketplaces, and many Americans will see their premiums cut in half or more:

• A family of four earning $40,000 would save nearly $1,600 in premiums each year
• A 64-year-old earning $57,420 would save more than $8,700 in premiums each year
• A single adult with income of $31,900 would see premiums cut in half
• An adult earning $19,140 would see premiums cut to zero, saving $800 dollars a year

Additionally, the bill:

• Negotiates for lower prescription drug prices
• Expands coverage
• Combats inequity in health coverage faced by communities of color
• Cracks down on junk plans & strengthens protections for people with pre-existing conditions

A fact sheet on the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act is available here.

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