Washington, D.C. – Matt Eyles, president and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) issued this statement as Congress passed the latest COVID-19 relief package, which includes essential support for Americans to keep their existing health care coverage, obtain coverage more affordably, and get the vaccines and testing they deserve:
Everyone deserves access to affordable, comprehensive health coverage, especially during a pandemic. We applaud Congress for protecting and strengthening the coverage on which hundreds of millions of hardworking Americans rely and for providing additional resources to deliver faster, more equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines and testing that are essential to saving lives and speeding recovery of our communities.
Improving affordability of individual market coverage by expanding eligibility and reducing premiums is essential to ensuring more Americans have the protection that health insurance coverage provides.
Fully covering the cost of COBRA premiums during these challenging economic times is precisely the kind of timely, targeted, and temporary action Americans support and need during the pandemic, offering them greater health security and added financial stability when they need it most.
Health insurance providers will continue to work closely with federal, state, and local leaders, as well as with American families and businesses, to help people get and stay covered, get their vaccines, and access the care they need. Working together, we can and will overcome the COVID-19 crisis and get back to the moments we all miss.
For more on health insurance providers’ solutions to help Americans overcome the COVID-19 crisis, visit our information page.
For essential resources on health insurance providers’ role in helping Americans get their COVID-19 vaccines, visit our vaccines resource page.
About AHIP
AHIP is the national association whose members provide coverage for health care and related services to hundreds of millions of Americans every day. Through these offerings, we improve and protect the health and financial security of consumers, families, businesses, communities and the nation. We are committed to market-based solutions and public-private partnerships that improve affordability, value, access, and well-being for consumers. Visit www.ahip.org for more information.