Act NOW: Protect the ACA and Medicaid

Please share this alert with others.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid are under serious threat in Congress (more below):

*  ALL children, adults and seniors who get coverage through Medicaid – including through waivers -- are at risk.

*  People who get insurance from their employers or individually through an Exchange or otherwise are also at risk of losing protections and benefits, and of having premiums and out-of-pocket costs increase.

WHAT TO DO: 

Please CALL your U.S. Representative in Congress.  It is fine to call after hours and leave a message. Call the DC office, and their local office too if you can.   (Instructions for calling are below.) Tell them:

• I have a child with special health care needs (specify).
• My child’s health and my family’s well-being depend on our health care coverage.  The coverage we have now (through Medicaid or ACA or other) is working for us. 
• If my child loses this health care coverage, he/she will not get the ___ [example of service/equipment/supplies] they need to stay healthy.
• If you make any changes at all to these programs, strengthen them – please do not harm my child by cutting or changing Medicaid, weakening protections for people with pre-existing conditions, or reducing essential health benefits.

For more impact, add your personal story. (See below for calling instructions.)

What’s happening:

Congress returns from recess the week of April 24.  The president has pressured House leaders to keep working on legislation to repeal/replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as “Obamacare”).  The legislation under consideration – the American Health Care Act (AHCA) – would also make drastic changes and cuts to the Medicaid program.  There may be efforts to get this legislation through the House as soon as Congress returns to DC on April 24. 

Many Members of Congress and their staffers do not understand how important Medicaid is to children with special health care needs and their families.  It is up to you to let them know what would happen to your child and family if Medicaid is changed and cut, or if parts of the ACA are repealed.  

It is critical that Members of Congress hear from their constituents before returning to DC, so they understand why they should oppose this bill even when pressured by their leadership to support it.

HOW TO CONTACT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS:

·       Call through the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 (not toll-free).You must know your Representative’s name.

·       Check www.house.gov to find your Representative and link to his/her website. On your Representative’s website, you can find their DC and local phone numbers. 

·       Use an online call tool that will suggest talking points and connect you automatically to your own Representative’s office based on your zip code:https://www.savemycare.org/call-replacement-bill/.

·       If you can’t get through on the phone, please fax a note. 

·       Your Rep’s website (found through www.house.gov) will also have and Facebook/Twitter info, and a form to send an email. Feel free to use multiple methods to communicate -- call both DC and local offices, send an email, anduse social media.  Twitter accounts: Representatives.

·       Use a number sponsored by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) –  English: 866-426-2631; Spanish: 877-736-7831. Based on your zip code, these numbers will connect you to a Republican Representative from your state (your own Rep. or another if your Rep. is not a Republican), and will suggest talking points.