Action Alert: Share Your Story to Save Medicaid

from National FV:

Hello families –

You have probably heard of the Graham-Cassidy bill that the US Senate will vote on NEXT WEEK.  On Monday afternoon, the Senate Finance Committee will be holding a hearing on this bill. The committee members and your own Senators need to know how harmful this bill will be for families of children and youth with special health care needs.  This bill is even worse than the others that the House passed and the Senate rejected earlier. 

Below is an outline you can use to write your comments and instructions on where to send them.  Please send them AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, but no later than Monday at 1:00.

Please pass this message along to others who might want to send their comments – your relatives, friends, child’s health care providers/teachers, even if they are in another state.

Here is a summary of what the Graham-Cassidy bill would do if it becomes law:

·         Federal Medicaid payments to states would be cut significantly over time, meaning states would be very likely to make fewer people eligible; eliminate or cut back on waivers; reduce or eliminate benefits (such as private-duty nursing hours and occupational/speech/physical therapy visits); and lower reimbursement to doctors, meaning it would be harder to find one that takes Medicaid.

·         States could let insurance companies charge more for people with pre-existing conditions; so insurance might be unaffordable. (States would be inclined to do this so premiums would go down for people who do NOT have pre-existing conditions.)

·         States could let insurance companies offer plans without some of the ACA’s essential health benefits, like mental health and substance abuse services, maternity care, or pediatric vision and dental services.

·         There would be no more federal subsidies to help people pay insurance premiums or get plans with lower cost-sharing; each state could decide whether it would offer such assistance; they are not required to do so.*

You can write whatever you like, but here is an outline to get you started:

[You add text underlined or in CAPS.]

My name is _____________ and I live in __TOWN, STATE__. 

My [CHILD / GRANDCHILD/ / OTHER], _[CHILD’S NAME]__, is __[AGE].

[SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE CHILD, SUCH AS HIS OR HER FAVORITE ACTIVITIES, PERSONALITY TRAITS and/or TALENTS.]

CHILD’S NAME has CONDITION, which requires [DESCRIBE TREATMENT, such as medications, therapies, frequency of doctor’s visits, surgeries, supplies, nursing, etc.].  The costs of this treatment is very high.  PROVIDE COST PER WEEK OR MONTH IF YOU HAVE IT.]

[EXPLAIN HOW YOU PAY FOR THE TREATMENT COSTS – private insurance from an employer, private insurance from an exchange, Medicaid, a Medicaid waiver, CHIP, TRICARE, out-of-pocket, combination of these, or other.]

[EXPLAIN HOW MEDICAID AND/OR THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA) HELP(s) YOUR CHILD AND FAMILY.  Examples:  child now able to get important therapies, medications; enabled me to work; protected family from going bankrupt or incurring huge medical debt (EX: “If there were a lifetime cap on coverage we would have been $___ in debt before our child even left the NICU.”; “If there were an annual cap on coverage, we wouldn’t be able to afford our child’s medications beyond March of each year.”]

[EXPLAIN YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE WAYS THE GRAHAM-CASSIDY BILL WOULD AFFECT YOUR CHILD AND FAMILY. See above bill summary.]

The Graham-Cassidy bill would hurt my child and family. I strongly urge Congress to reject it.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS]

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Send your comments to GCHcomments@finance.senate.gov.