ACA15/ePTC Digital Toolkit for ACA anniversary
March 23, 2025
For Use March 23 – March 28
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law 15 years ago on March 23rd, and it remains one of the most consequential health care reforms in our country’s history. Over the last 15 years, the ACA has expanded affordable coverage to people previously locked out of health insurance, lowered premiums, and out-of-pocket costs, and helped the nation’s uninsured rate reach an all-time low. Unfortunately, dismantling it remains a top Republican priority as they look to give tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy and big corporations.
West Virginians for Affordable Health Care has put together the digital toolkit below and is happy to share it with you. Please feel free to share on your social media sites, as well as throughout your networks of allies and partners to help us bring attention to the importance of the ACA as it is once again under attack.
KEY MESSAGE
The Affordable Care Act was signed into law 15 years ago, and it remains one of the most consequential health care reforms in our country’s history. Over the last 15 years, the ACA has expanded affordable coverage to people previously locked out of health insurance, lowered premiums, and out-of-pocket costs, and helped the nation’s uninsured rate reach an all-time low. Unfortunately, dismantling it remains a top Republican priority as they look to give tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy and big corporations.
The ACA protects over 100 million people with pre-existing conditions from being charged more or denied coverage by insurance companies. It guarantees free preventive care for over 150 million Americans, and it allows young adults to stay on their parents’ insurance plans. More Americans than ever count on it today: a record 24.2 million Americans are enrolled in quality coverage thanks to tax credits passed by Democrats in Congress that made health care more affordable for millions of middle-class families purchasing coverage on their own.
Millions of Americans are relying on these tax credits, but Republicans want to take them away, which would lead premiums to spike and leave 5 million more people uninsured.
Unless Congress acts now, premium costs will skyrocket for families across West Virginia. On average, families would pay at least $1404 more for their premiums, and 5,300 Mountaineers will lose their insurance entirely, including people who are self-employed, small businesses, older adults who don’t yet qualify for Medicare, people living in high-cost rural areas, farmers, people with pre-existing conditions, and more.
Lower premium costs have helped take the pressure off families and given them more room to pay for other necessities like food, rent, and gas. ACA coverage in West Virginia has more than doubled thanks to the efforts of Democrats who have worked tirelessly to protect and expand the ACA.
We are yet again standing at the edge of a health care cliff. Republicans are pushing to raise premiums and health care costs for 24 million Americans by taking away these tax credits. From day one, Republicans like Shelley Moore Capito have been fighting to raise health care costs, from voting against these savings in the first place to now taking them away.
Instead of protecting affordable coverage, Republicans are more focused on delivering tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations while leaving people struggling to get by. Losing these savings would be devastating to millions who may otherwise not be able to access health care. As a result, millions of families will once again have to choose between being able to see a doctor or keeping a roof over their heads.
As the ACA turns 15 years old on March 23rd the law is unfortunately once again in Republicans’ crosshairs while Democrats have introduced the Health Care Affordability Act to ensure health care costs remain affordable for people who buy coverage on their own. If Republicans are serious about bringing down costs, they will ensure these tax credits remain available for families for years to come, and people with pre-existing conditions can continue to afford coverage. It is time for Republicans to get on board and protect the health care of millions of Americans.
Printable Resources:
Medicaid in West Virginia
May 2025
Download Medicaid in West Virginia
