Must Read: How the American Rescue Plan expanded health care access for Hoosier families

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Democratic Party, the organization that advocates for the future of Indiana and its families, today celebrated the continued success of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and how it has delivered access to affordable health care to Hoosiers across Indiana twelve years after being signed into law by former President Barack Obama. This time, President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan is strengthening the national law, giving more Hoosiers access to affordable health care coverage while creating a better future for our families. 

It bears repeating: The entire Indiana Republican Party opposed the Affordable Care Act and the American Rescue Plan. They put their culture wars and partisanship ahead of creating a brighter future for Hoosier families. 

According to the White House, here’s how the American Rescue Plan is strengthening the Affordable Care Act for Hoosiers: 

1. More than 156,000 Hoosiers secured health care coverage via the Rescue Plan
   1. This is a 15-percent increase prior to the passage of ARP

2. Americans – including Hoosiers – saved about $800 in health care costs

“Twelve years ago, Indiana Democrats delivered a transformational law that secured health care for Hoosiers who either could not afford it or were denied coverage because of age or something as simple as having a pre-existing condition. Some of our elected leaders were ready to put their jobs on the line – and did so – to make the Affordable Care Act a reality for the Hoosier State,” said Mike Schmuhl, Chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party. 

Thanks to leaders like Congressman André Carson and former elected officials such as Baron Hill, Joe Donnelly, Brad Ellsworth, and Pete Visclosky, Hoosiers living with pre-existing conditions could no longer be denied health care coverage. Further, the ACA allowed young Hoosiers to stay on their parents’ health care plans until the age of 26, and the law is responsible for creating and funding the state’s Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) 2.0 – providing more than 572,000 low-income Hoosiers access to health care. 

Schmuhl added, “Ever since its passage, Democrats have looked for ways to strengthen our nation’s health care system – even if politicians from across the aisle manufacture a decade-long culture war to repeal this once-in-a-generation investment. The American Rescue Plan answered the call, and thanks to Congressmen André Carson and Frank Mrvan, about 156,000 more Hoosiers have access to insurance and Hoosiers overall saved $800 in health care costs. Indiana Democrats will always answer the call to solve the kitchen-table issues important to our families, and the Affordable Care Act is a great reminder of what’s possible when elected leaders deliver for Hoosiers.” 

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