Axios Live: "Health care costs are scaring people," Rep. Dingell says

Washington, D.C. — Americans are not just thinking about the high prices of health care — they're afraid of them, said Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) at an Axios event.

Why it matters: Collective investment in preventive care could save lives and reduce costs.

Axios' Kate Santaliz and Brock Turner moderated conversations with Dingell and Lexi Branson, vice president of health policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The June 23 program was sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim.

State of play: Changes the GOP-led Congress made to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid are beginning to take effect, increasing the number of Americans without health insurance.

What they're saying: "The cost of everything is [the] number one issue on most people's minds," Dingell said.

• "It is a crisis in this country that," because of funding cuts, "we are going to lose a generation of researchers," Dingell said.
• Health care is a "retention tool" for employers, Branson said. "They use it for competitiveness … and when we're talking about prevention, these employers have a real responsibility and a very unique opportunity to really make a difference."

Threat level: "People are … not going to the doctor" because they're afraid of the bill, Dingell added, "putting it off and showing up at the emergency rooms when they're far sicker."

What's next: "Anything that focuses more on prevention is a great opportunity," said Branson.

Content from the sponsor's segment:

In a View From the Top conversation where she was joined by American Diabetes Association director of primary care Jessica Pius-Nwagwu, National Kidney Foundation vice president of health policy Miriam Godwin said that when undiagnosed and untreated patients die, it showcases the "millions of missed opportunities to save lives [and] to do better for the federal financing of our health care system."