In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’re reflecting on the work that President Biden and Vice President Harris are doing every day to fight for policies that support the AANHPI community. Thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris, the health insurance gap for AANHPI communities is closing and the cost of lifesaving prescription drugs is dropping dramatically for millions of people in the AANHPI community and beyond. President Biden and Vice President Harris – our first AANHPI vice president – continue to make strides every day to advance equity and opportunity for the AANHPI community.

DNC Deputy National Press Secretary Nina Raneses released the following statement: 

“President Biden and Vice President Harris are expanding access to affordable health care for millions of hardworking Americans — and it’s making a huge impact in our AANHPI communities. Under President Biden’s leadership, Americans have enrolled in the Affordable Care Act at record rates while the historic Inflation Reduction Act is lowering the cost of lifesaving prescription drugs, which has directly impacted millions of AANHPI households. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is hellbent on killing the Affordable Care Act and cutting Medicare, which would increase premiums for over 1 million AANHPI families and rip away access to lifesaving care. The future of our health care is on the ballot this November, and the choice is clear: President Biden is fighting for us while Trump only cares about himself and lining the pockets of his Big Pharma buddies.”

President Biden is closing the insurance coverage gap in AANHPI communities.

CNN: “Obamacare sign-ups hit record 21.3 million as Biden pushes his efforts to lower health care costs”

“A record 21.3 million Americans flocked to Affordable Care Act coverage for 2024, further cementing the law’s place in the nation’s health care landscape.”

White House Fact Sheet: “Almost 1.5 million AA and NHPI people were uninsured in 2019 before President Biden took office and over 1.3 million people of color fell into the Medicaid ‘coverage gap’ and were locked out of coverage because their state refused to expand Medicaid. Since President Biden took office, the uninsured rate has reached a new historic low: 8% and over 5 million Americans have gained health insurance coverage.”

The Commonwealth Fund: “The ACA helped eliminate the coverage gap between Asian American and white adults in the U.S. across all income categories, and Asian Americans have had among the lowest uninsured rate of any racial or ethnic group since the law’s implementation.”

Kaiser Family Foundation: “7 percent of the 16.4 million Americans who selected a Marketplace plan identified as Asian American.”

President Biden’s Historic Inflation Reduction Act capped the price of insulin at $35 for seniors on Medicare and lowered prescription drug prices for over 2 million AANHPI seniors. 

CNN: “More Americans can now get insulin for $35” 

“Congress, the White House and new players in the market have increased pressure on insulin manufacturers to lower their prices. Eli Lilly and Sanofi announced that they would institute $35 caps shortly after President Joe Biden called on drugmakers to do so in his State of the Union address last year.” 

And the Biden-Harris administration is spearheading efforts to increase access to essential behavioral health care for AANHPI communities. 

White House Fact Sheet: “Biden-⁠Harris Administration Takes Action to Promote Access to Behavioral Health Care for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities”

“Through the President’s Mental Health Strategy and other initiatives, the Biden-Harris Administration is leading a whole-of-society approach to transform behavioral health services and bolster support, particularly for underserved communities, including AA and NHPI communities. Over the past two years, federal agencies have worked to eliminate barriers to care; expand the full continuum of prevention, treatment, and recovery services; and prioritize integration of these services into settings where they can be more easily accessed.” 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Organization: “The Biden-Harris Administration Awards More Than $88 Million in Grants that Safeguard Youth Mental Health and Expand Access to Treatment for Substance Use Disorders”

Trump has already tried – and failed – to get rid of affordable and accessible health care for millions of Americans. 

NBC News: “Affirming its disdain for ‘Obamacare,’ the Trump administration on Thursday announced sharp cuts in programs promoting health care enrollment under the Affordable Care Act for next year”

“Advertising will be cut from $100 million spent on 2017 sign-ups to $10 million, said Health and Human Services officials. Funding for consumer helpers called ‘navigators’ will also be cut, from $62.5 million for 2017, to $36.8 million for next year.”

New York Times: “The Trump administration said Saturday that it was suspending a program that pays billions of dollars to insurers to stabilize health insurance markets under the Affordable Care Act, a freeze that could increase uncertainty in the markets and drive up premiums this fall.”

NBC News: “Trump approved a surprise decision to push for the complete elimination of the Affordable Care Act in the courts. If it succeeds, millions of Americans will lose their private insurance or Medicaid coverage and the health care system would be thrown into chaos.”

Meanwhile, President Biden is passing legislation to lower monthly premiums and make healthcare more accessible for AANHPI communities. 

White House Fact Sheet: “The Biden-⁠Harris Administration Advances Equity and Opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities Across the Country”

“The Inflation Reduction Act locks in lower monthly premiums – about 197,000 uninsured AA and NHPI Americans will continue to save money on health care coverage, including the 50,000 AA and NHPI people that could find a plan for $0-premium plan in 2021.”

“The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expanded culturally appropriate and understandable health care information for the AA and NHPI community, including releasing the “Medicare & You” handbook in Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. CMS also conducted targeted outreach to AA and NHPI communities for the 2022 Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment season, including specific social media and television advertisements, and hosting an AA and NHPI week of action during December 2022.”