WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement ahead of the 14th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, which Senator Reed voted for, and President Barack Obama signed into law on March 23, 2010:

“Fourteen years since the Affordable Care Act became law, the ACA continues to save lives, expand coverage, and have a positive impact in Rhode Island and across the nation. There is no doubt the ACA is working for American families, especially for the roughly 443,900 Rhode Islanders and tens of millions of Americans who have preexisting conditions.

“No one should have to worry about going bankrupt if they end up in the hospital. And having health coverage in case you or a loved one gets sick provides peace of mind.

“As former President Trump and others continue their attempts to slash or dismantle the ACA, we have a long way to go to strengthen the law and assist the millions of Americans who still lack health coverage. While critics of the ACA try to mislead people about the law, the facts speak for themselves: During the 2024 open enrollment period, a historic 21.3 million Americans enrolled in ACA-related coverage, including more than 5 million new enrollees.

“In Rhode Island, the ACA – through HealthSource RI – has decreased the uninsured rate by more than two thirds. Today, the Ocean State has one of the highest insured rates in the country with about 97 percent of Rhode Islanders having affordable access to top-notch health care. Furthermore, thanks to the boost to the advance premium tax credit (APTC) that Democrats delivered through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, over 24,000 Rhode Islanders are saving about $425 each month on their coverage.

“I will continue working to strengthen the ACA and build on the progress of the last fourteen years by capping out-of-pocket prescription drug costs and lowering health care costs for American families.”