Sen. Murray on IRA Keeping Health Care Costs Low: “Stress Off Patients’ Shoulders, Money in Their Pockets”

***WATCH: Senator Murray delivers floor remarks on Inflation Reduction Act***

(Washington, DC) — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), issued the following statement on the measures included in the Inflation Reduction Act to extend the health care tax credits passed in the American Rescue Plan to lower patients’ health care costs and continue lowering the uninsured rate across the country.

“Thanks to the American Rescue Plan Democrats passed, our national uninsured rate is at an all-time low, millions of families saved thousands on health care—and over 40,000 people in Washington state alone found coverage for no more than just ten bucks. I worked hard to deliver that progress—and I’ve been working every day since to protect it, and ensure the families who depend on this support don’t see the bottom drop out and their health care costs go up. Now, because of Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act, these lifesaving tax credits will continue for three full years—and it will take a little stress off people’s shoulders and keep money in their pockets.

“When it comes to quality, affordable health insurance, Democrats are continuing to deliver. The Inflation Reduction Act will build on the game-changing progress of the American Rescue Plan, keep health care costs down, and put patients in Washington state and all across the country first.”

The Inflation Reduction Act will extend—for three full years—the health care tax credits Senator Murray championed in the American Rescue Plan to keep saving families money on health care. The tax credits have saved millions of Americans thousands of dollars on health care, spurred record enrollment on the exchanges, and helped bring our nation’s uninsured rate to an all-time low. In Washington state, more than 60,000 new people have enrolled in coverage, two in five have found coverage for less than $100 a month, and 40,000 people have found coverage on Washington’s exchange for less than $10 a month.

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