Strengthening Health

We work to strengthen public health systems and improve health care coverage, access, and affordability.

A pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic is seen in California. (Getty/Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

What We're Doing

Increasing vaccination rates to end the pandemic

Vaccination is key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic and avoiding preventable illness, death, and economic loss. We promote equitable vaccine policy and leveraging governmental and employers’ power to promote vaccination and pandemic recovery.

 

Strengthening public health infrastructure

The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed inequities and existing weaknesses in the United States’ public health infrastructure. We’re focused on improving health equity by investing in public health, addressing social and economic factors that affect health, and preparing for future health threats.

 

Improving access to affordable health coverage

We’re dedicated to bolstering affordable, high-quality health coverage options. By building on the Affordable Care Act, closing the Medicaid coverage gap, and innovating progressive solutions, we envision a world in which everyone can access care.

 

Lowering health care prices and consumer costs

Health care affordability is a top consumer concern, and prices for health care and prescription drugs are inaccessibly high for many. One of our key priorities is improving America’s health by lowering costs to ensure all people can afford to manage their health.

 

Center for American Progress Action

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By the Numbers

1.9

Life expectancy fell by 1.9 years in the pandemic—8.5 times more than peer countries.

Woolf, “Effect of the covid-19 pandemic in 2020 on life expectancy across populations” (2021).

2x

The U.S. spends 2 times more as peer countries on health, with 8% lower life expectancy.

CAP, “The Declining Health of Americans” (2021).

7,000

Closing the Medicaid coverage gap would save 7,000 lives per year.

CAP, “Closing the Medicaid Coverage Gap Would Save 7,000 Lives Each Year” (2021).

2.8x

COVID hospitalized Black and Hispanic people at a rate 2.8 times higher than white people.

CDC, “Risk for COVID-19 Infection, Hospitalization, and Death by Race/Ethnicity” (2021).

Recent Work

Latest

Compact View

The Affordable Care Act Saved My Life. Donald Trump Wants To Destroy It, Again | Opinion In the News

The Affordable Care Act Saved My Life. Donald Trump Wants To Destroy It, Again | Opinion

Sage Warner, director of Stories at CAP Action, reflects in Newsweek on her experiences advocating against the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and describes how the historic health care legislation enabled her to access affordable, lifesaving health care through the ACA marketplace.

Newsweek

Sage Warner

Opinion: President Biden is working to make sure I never have to ration my insulin again In the News

Opinion: President Biden is working to make sure I never have to ration my insulin again

Yamelisa Jimenez Taveras, a Type 1 diabetic, shares how the high cost of insulin left her with little choice but to ration her insulin. She applauds the Biden administration’s efforts to cap the cost of insulin for Medicare recipients and continues to advocate for insulin copay caps for all diabetics.

The Pennsylvania Independent

Yamelisa Jimenez Taveras

Opinion: The Inflation Reduction Act lowered my health care costs. Big Pharma isn’t happy. In the News

Opinion: The Inflation Reduction Act lowered my health care costs. Big Pharma isn’t happy.

A cancer survivor and retiree, Susan Robertson, shares how the Inflation Reduction Act helped her save more than $400 in health care costs. A new lawsuit from pharmaceutical companies threatens to reverse the law’s Medicare reforms.

The Michigan Independent

Susan Robertson

Opinion: The Affordable Care Act saved my daughter’s life. We must keep strengthening it for patients like her. In the News

Opinion: The Affordable Care Act saved my daughter’s life. We must keep strengthening it for patients like her.

William Garcia shares his story about how the Affordable Care Act provided his daughter with critical access to health care. William’s story exemplifies the importance of the law and the need to expand it.

The Wisconsin Independent

William Garcia

1 Year Without Roe Personal Story

1 Year Without Roe

This CAP story collection details the experiences of doctors, doulas, and nurse practitioners since the overturn of Roe v. Wade and their fears in the rapidly evolving legal landscape of abortion care.

the Center for American Progress

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