The package extends grants that were previously given during the pandemic.
SAN DIEGO — The price of health insurance for covered California enrollees is expected to increase by $1,000 per policyholder, if the federal government does not pass the “Inflation Relief” package.
That’s according to Health Access California, which joined with other organizations Thursday to express concern and urge passage of the legislation.
The bill includes environmental provisions, but on the health side, it would attempt to lower the cost of prescription drugs, by allowing Medicare to negotiate with big pharma instead of the government.
It would extend grants given during COVID to help Americans pay for their health insurance.
“I’m almost upset that we’re here today discussing this, sorry,” said Steven Martin, who struggled to come out during the discussion on Thursday.
Martin remembers the worst day of his life in 2016.
“I was diagnosed with an incurable form of leukemia,” he said.
That same day, he found out the cost to try to save his life would be $147,000.
That’s why he joined Health Access California on Thursday to talk about the nation’s inflation-fighting package, which includes health care provisions.
“This legislation is so profound because it restores dignity to patients,” he said.
Health Access Director Anthony Wright said if that doesn’t pass those in San Diego, for example, premiums could rise by more than $1,000.
“Nearly 110,000 enrolled in Covered California in San Diego, the estimate is that premiums would increase by $1,000.74 on average for subsidized members,” Wright said.
He said premiums are expected to rise even more in Northern California.
“For Sacramento, which has approximately 60,000 books registered in Sacramento County, the average premium increase will be $1,124,” Wright said.
He said there was little the state of California could do to offset the cost if he didn’t pass.
“The money in the budget that was just signed a month ago is only about a fifth of the $1.7 billion that would be lost,” Wright said.
The package can be voted on as soon as this week, but Wright knows it won’t be an easy battle. Republican lawmakers in DC and California are calling the package a tax hike for Americans.
“So the legislation that we’re apparently going to be asked to vote on this week is called the Cut Inflation Act. And in fact, it’s the ‘Inflation Raise Act’. And we’ve seen here today why that’s true. When you put taxes on the economy that are the responsibility of workers and consumers and shareholders, it increases inflationary pressures,” said Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio ).
Democrats disagree with that sentiment, saying the only people who will see a tax hike are big corporations and those earning more than $400,000 a year.
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