Lowering the Cost of Access to Healthcare (Protecting the ACA)

WHEREAS, in 2020, there were 41.1 million Black Americans who identified as one race and 46.9 million Black Americans who identified as Black or African American in combination with another race or ethnicity accounting for 12.4 percent and 14.2 percent of the total U.S. population, respectively. Since 2010, the number of Black Americans in combination with at least one other race grew 88.7 percent, and the number of Black Americans who identify as one race increased 5.6 percent since 2010; and

WHEREAS, since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)'s coverage provisions, the uninsured rate among Black Americans under age 65 decreased by 8 percentage points, from 20 percent in 2011 to 12 percent in 2019. The uninsured rate for Black Americans, however, is still higher than that for White Americans: 12 percent compared to 9 percent; and

WHEREAS, while access to care improved for Black Americans between 2011 and 2020, disparities in affordability of health care between Black and White Americans persist; and

WHEREAS, southern states that have not expanded Medicaid have some of the nation's highest uninsured rates for all population groups, as well as large Black populations; and

WHEREAS, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) increased availability of affordable coverage options via Medicaid expansion in participating states and Marketplace coverage with premium subsidies. Studies show that the ACA's coverage expansions narrowed racial and ethnic health disparities in coverage and access to care; and

WHEREAS, if the ACA were repealed and not replaced, the Urban Institute predicts the uninsured rate would increase to a level even higher than before the ACA. Although the ACA has helped 20 million people get coverage, about 29 million people still lack health insurance.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the NAACP will advocate to preserve and implement the Affordable Care Act as one of several solutions to lowering the barrier to healthcare access and coverage along with expanding Medicaid, ensuring Medicare solvency and pushing for the continuation of federal funding for community clinics and hospitals.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NAACP will advocate for expanded cost-saving provisions to be applied to the ACA Marketplace that will further lower the cost to access by increasing Federal negotiating power for plans and rates for those financially impaired.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the NAACP will continue to explore additional innovative policy and practice solutions to ensure the ACA reach is deepened within the communities we serve.