FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/07/2023
CONTACT: Max Croes — 907-570-2065

ANCHORAGE – Alaskans for Begich released a new radio ad today titled “Fix It.” The ad, which started airing today, is narrated by Mark Begich and tells the story of the challenges Alaskans have faced when it comes to accessing quality health care.

As Begich explains, before the Affordable Care Act, one third of Alaskans trying to access individual policies were denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions and other unfair reasons. Before health care reform, being a woman was considered a pre-existing condition, sick children were denied coverage, and families were unsure of whether their basic health needs would be met.

“To me this is a critical core issue for Alaskans. When I think about the health care law, frustrated, disappointed, you can put a lot of words towards it, but everyday I work to try to fix it because the way Alaskans operate, we come together to learn how to solve the problems and move forward. We are not afraid to take on tough challenges,” says Begich.

As Begich notes that he shares Alaskans’ “frustration” and “disappointment” with how the Administration has handled the transition to the new health care law, he also highlights his relentless efforts to fix the law so it works better for Alaska families and small businesses.

Begich continues to fight for critical fixes to the health care law.

Begich Introduced the Copper Plan Which Could Reduce Premiums By 18%: An Independent study by the Council forAffordable Health Coverage has said that Begich’s Copper Plan could reduce premiums by 18% and save taxpayers nearly $6 billion.

Begich Eliminated Burdensome Regulations to Ease the Transition for Small Businesses: Begich led the charge to fight the Administration and eliminate the 1099 regulation which placed unnecessary filing requirements on small businesses.

Begich Introduced Legislation to Provide More Tax Credits for Small Businesses for a Longer Period of Time:Begich’s bill, The Small Business Tax Credits Accessibility Act, improves access to small business tax credits and extends the number of years small businesses are eligible to receive these credits.

Begich Eliminated Unnecessary Loophole That Unfairly Targeted Volunteer Firefighters: Begich successfully fought the Administration and won in his efforts to exempt volunteer fire departments from being required to count their volunteers as full-time employees.

Begich Stood up to Administration to Protect Victims of Domestic Violence and Their Access to Health Care Subsidies: Begich successfully pushed back on the Administration and eliminated a loophole that could have required victims of domestic violence face unfair barriers in receiving the tax credits they are owed for their health care costs.

Transcript of “Fix It:”

Senator Mark Begich: I’m Mark Begich running for U.S Senate, and I approved this message. Before the health care law was passed one third of Alaskans who tried to get individual policies were denied for preexisting conditions and other reasons. It was incredible stress that families faced. To me this is a critical core issue for Alaskans. When I think about the health care law, frustrated, disappointed, you can put a lot of words towards it, but everyday I work to try to fix it because the way Alaskans operate, we come together to learn how to solve the problems and move forward. We are not afraid to take on tough challenges. That is why I have introduced the Copper Plan that lowers premiums by another 18%. I also got rid of this burdensome paperwork put on small businesses and now I have introduced legislation to give small businesses more tax credits so they can afford to pay for their insurance for their employees. Everyday I am working to fix it, make it better for every Alaskan. That is what I have spent my life doing, trying to solve problems, getting things done, and that is what I am going to continue to do.

Narrator: Paid for by Alaskans for Begich.