The Dominican Sisters of Hope are outraged that the present direction of the Healthcare bill will leave 24 million people without healthcare. We are also outraged that, in the Senate, no women sit on the study committee to rewrite the law.
This bill (American Health Care Act, or AHCA) will strip coverage from at least 24 million people and gut Medicaid in order to give $600 billion in tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations. With the proposed amendments, states could get rid of protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Money for high-risk pools that segregate the sick into to higher-cost plans will not solve this problem.
Here’s the thing: many of our sisters are career nurses. We’ve seen first-hand how poor and marginalized communities are hurt the most from a lack of health care and federal funding.
We’re committed to defending the poor, the marginalized, and everyone who depends on the Affordable Care Act. We are contacting our Senate representatives to voice our concerns for those who will be without healthcare and the composition of the Senate committee, and we urge you to do the same.
Here’s a sample script:
Caller: Good morning/afternoon! I’m calling to oppose the American Health Care Act and the Upton proposal.
This bill would take away health care from millions of Americans, would cut the Medicaid program, and give $600 billion in tax breaks to the wealthy. With the proposed amendments, states could get rid of protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Money for high-risk pools that segregate the sick into to higher-cost plans will not solve this problem.
[[I/my family member] am at risk of losing [my/his/her] insurance. [I/ my family member] have a pre-existing condition that before the ACA could be used by insurance companies to discriminate against me. My health depends on Rep. ____ voting against the American Health Care Act.]
Rep. ____ needs to make it clear that she/he wants to protect people with pre-existing conditions, those on Medicaid, and everyone else who depends on the Affordable Care Act for their health and wellbeing.
Staffer: I will certainly pass on your message to Rep. ______.
Caller: Please do. This is extremely important to me and I will be watching closely for her/his public statements in opposition. Thank you for your time.
Find more sample scripts here.
Find your Senate representative here.
As Dominican Sister of Hope Pat Jelly, OP put it: “We must care for each other, each other’s children, and for future generations.” The time is now.