Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 | 2 a.m.
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Just over one year ago, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. The law is designed to lower health care premiums for people who buy their own coverage, cap insulin costs for people on Medicare, and penalize big drug companies for egregious price hikes, which is already helping Nevadans.
Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev., helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act to make prescription drugs more affordable. I’m thrilled she’s been supporting Biden as the administration takes action to eliminate surprise medical bills and expand protections for people with preexisting conditions such as asthma, cancer and diabetes. After all, my health depends on members of Congress standing up to companies that put outrageous profits over people, as I live with psoriatic arthritis and Type 2 diabetes.
Every single Republican in Congress opposed the Inflation Reduction Act. Now, they are ramping up their war on health care by introducing legislation to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s measures to lower prescription drug costs and introducing plans to slash Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Republicans in Congress recently passed a bill to promote junk plans that can discriminate against people with preexisting conditions. If they get their way, I could be dropped from my health insurance because of my preexisting conditions.
Psoriatic arthritis is a painful disease that causes swelling in all of my joints and a very distinct rash. After living with swelling and pain for several years, I was finally diagnosed with this condition when a rash appeared. Before it was brought under control, the rash covered 60% of my body — including my face. Thankfully, my doctor prescribed a biological medication that controls the rash and reduces the swelling and pain in my joints.
If I didn’t have health insurance, the cost of medication to control my psoriatic arthritis would be more than $5,000 every month, which is more money than I make. Even with my health insurance, my copay is $350 per month and still unaffordable to me. I have to depend on the pharmaceutical company’s program that reduces my copay to $5 per month. This program makes my medicine affordable, but the reality is this: If the company discontinues this program, I won’t be able to afford this necessary medication at all.
And that’s just one of the medications I have to take that allows me to work, spend time with friends and family, and generally have a quality life.
My Type 2 diabetes is a more common condition and affects far more Nevadans than psoriatic arthritis. For years, I was able to control my diabetes with medication. Recently, I developed diabetic ketoacidosis and now I am insulin dependent. Through my insurance, my insulin and needles have a $0 copay. However, I must pay for my testing supplies out-of-pocket. I now wear a continuous glucose monitor, which costs me $70 upfront, and I pay $70 each month for the sensors I need to monitor my blood glucose and administer the appropriate amount of insulin I need. Testing supplies are as crucial as insulin in managing Type 2 diabetes but aren’t covered by my health insurance and the costs quickly add up.
Even with my health insurance and a good-paying job, the cost of managing my health is expensive. If they’re successful, Republicans in Congress would make managing my health even more expensive.
Nevadans like me depend on quality, affordable health care to live healthy, secure lives, and the Inflation Reduction Act is a historic step forward to lowering costs.
I am grateful for all that the Biden administration is doing to improve health care in America. There is more work to do to lower health care costs, and I know Biden and Democrats in Congress will work hard to keep delivering for Nevadans and all Americans.
Lisa Lynn Chapman has lived in Southern Nevada for more than 40 years.
