Washington, D.C.—Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement on the 12th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act:

“Twelve years ago, Congress and President Obama expanded access to quality, affordable health care for North Carolinians with the historic passage of the Affordable Care Act. Today this life-saving legislation continues to safeguard the lives, health, and financial security of the people of our state. Since its enactment, more than 500,000 folks in North Carolina have gained health coverage, many of whom were previously blocked from receiving care because of pre-existing conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress continued to build on the ACA when vulnerable Americans needed it the most. I proudly voted for the American Recue Plan, which significantly lowered health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs, delivering critical relief to 87,000 residents in Wake County alone.

“Unfortunately, North Carolina is still one of only 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. This means over 650,000 North Carolinians who are unable to afford private health insurance remain ineligible for coverage through the Medicaid program. People in this so-called ‘Medicaid gap’ are falling through the cracks, and it’s our responsibility to give them a lifeline. I’ll keep fighting until all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care.”

During her time in the NC General Assembly and since taking office in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Ross has been a tireless advocate for the expansion of Medicaid in non-expansion states like North Carolina. She introduced the Medicaid Saves Lives Act with Congresswoman Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-07) to expand access to health care coverage for over four million low-income Americans. Last May, Ross sent a letter urging Congressional leadership to take action to lower costs and expand access to health care. She has also called for lowering the age of Medicare eligibility to 60 or lower, which could open the door for millions to access quality coverage.

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