Rep. Craig, Peters’ Bill to Lower Health Insurance Premiums Passes Committee

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig's (MN-02) first piece of healthcare legislation - the State Health Care Premium Reduction Act, cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52), passed the Energy and Commerce Committee last night, moving one step closer to addressing one of the biggest and most immediate concerns facing hardworking American families right now: affordable health care.

The State Health Care Premium Reduction Act would make healthcare more affordable by encouraging states to create their own state-based marketplaces, which would cover the costliest medical claims and lower premiums for people across the country. The program is estimated to reduce premiums by as much as 10 percent.

"The cost of healthcare is the number one issue I hear about in my conversations with hardworking Minnesotans," said Rep. Angie Craig. "That's why I'm proud to work toward reducing the cost of health insurance, and why I remain committed to pushing for additional solutions that increase access to quality healthcare."

"I am committed to protecting and expanding Americans' access to healthcare—and ensuring its affordability. Reinsurance programs keep premiums down for everyone and stabilize the markets, so we should encourage more states to adopt them. It's one solution to keep Americans insured and keep healthcare affordable," said Rep. Scott Peters.

The bill is also part of a larger package called the Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions & Making Health Care More Affordable Act of 2019, which addresses the cost of health insurance, ensures protections for people with preexisting conditions, and fully funds efforts to educate consumers about their coverage options.