Dear Health Advocates,

The government shutdown is now in its fourth week and Congress still hasn’t acted to make the enhanced premium tax credits permanent, even with the beginning of Marketplace open enrollment looming on November 1. As we move closer to OE, we need to continue to put pressure on Congress to act now to lower health care costs. For more resources and ways to stay engaged, see our Lower Health Care Costs campaign page.

Healthcare Heist: National Week of Action

Families USA is joining with the Economic Security Project and other national partners to sponsor a week of action from October 29 - November 5.

Republicans in Congress have made healthcare cuts that will devastate working families, small businesses, and young adults—hitting hardest when open enrollment starts November 1 and most people on the Affordable Care Act hear about premium spikes for the first time. The National Week of Action is a moment to tell the story of these harmful cuts, including more than $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and the ACA, and point to who is responsible for this pain. Without the tax credits, millions will be forced to pay nearly double for coverage or lose coverage entirely.

We have a critical window to act together. While the possibility of a legislative extension of the premium tax credits exists, this is a campaign to win the public narrative on the tax bill—on what’s in it, who benefits, and who is harmed. Find more info here.

Health Action Conference

The conference will be held from January 22-23 here in Washington, DC at the Capital Hilton. Whether you're a HAC veteran or a first-timer, we hope you can join other dynamic health advocates from across the country to strengthen the movement for health and health care justice.

Find more details and register here. We also ask that you fill out our pre-conference survey to help us make HAC even better for advocates like you!

HAC Registration

Pre-Conference Survey

Take Action: Send an email to your Senators and Representatives asking them to prioritize affordability in the budget bill!
Petition: Sign the petition to stop the attacks on the Title X Family Planning Program, Power to Decide.
Call to Action: Please join Families USA and Tell Your Members of Congress: Health Care Cuts Are Unacceptable: Email Writing Campaign

NEW! Insights Blog: Smoke and Mirrors vs. Policy and Meaningful Change: What’s Real and What’s Political Theater in the Fight for Lower Prescription Drug Prices, Families USA.
NEW! Comment Letter: Families USA and 153 Organizations Send Letter to Congress to Permanently Extend Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, Families USA.
NEW! Comment Letter: Families USA Submits Letter of Gratitude to Alabama Governor Kay Ivey for Expanding Access to Continuous Glucose Monitors, Families USA.
NEW! Insights Blog: Sowing Distrust and Dismantling Science: Escalating Threats to Vaccine Access, Families USA.
UPDATED! Fact Sheet: The Importance of Premium Tax Credits: Affording Health Insurance Coast to Coast, Families USA.

NEXT MONTH! Rally for the Public's Health
- Please join the American Public Health Association and partners on the National Mall on Wednesday, Nov. 5 from 2:30-4 p.m. to rally for critical public health issues and initiatives. Whether you’re visiting Washington, D.C. for the Annual Meeting or you are a local public health advocate, this rally is for you. Join us, foster your network of public health peers and speak up for public health! Find more information here.
Advocates Meeting: Wednesday Advocates Meeting Zoom call, Coalition on Human Needs hosting every Wednesday at 9:30 AM ET.
Shared Advocacy Calendar: Coalition on Human Needs. Check out weeks of action and upcoming events