Dear Health Advocates,

Open enrollment for Marketplace plans begins this Saturday, November 1, and Congress still hasn't extended the enhanced premium tax credits, which make coverage more affordable for millions of people. Across the board, Americans are seeing their health care costs increase this year, regardless of whether they receive a tax credit. Consumers buying health coverage through the ACA are about to confront skyrocketing premiums and many may not be able to afford coverage if Congress doesn't extend the enhanced tax credits. You can find helpful info and resources in our new blog: Getting Ready for Open Enrollment.

SNAP funding will not be available in November, per recent United States Department of Agriculture guidance stating it won't use contingency funding if the shutdown continues in November. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities explains why this breaks from prior practice, including the Trump Administration here. This means 42 million Americans will go without food assistance, and leaves states to decide whether they can fund SNAP benefits without federal reimbursement. We have included resources from our partner The Arc here.

Healthcare Heist: National Week of Action

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

Republicans in Congress have made health care 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: Everything You Need to Know for Marketplace Open Enrollment this Year, Families USA.
NEW! Blog: 300,000 Lawfully Present Immigrants Will Be Newly Ineligible for Health Care Help in This Open Enrollment Period, NILC.
NEW! Blog: Reducing or Eliminating the Title X Family Planning Program Would Restrict Contraceptive Access Nationwide, Commonwealth Fund.
NEW! Policy Brief: Medicaid: A Lifeline for Latines and Immigrants, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice.
NEW! Fact Sheet: State Strategies for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), Milbank Memorial Fund.
NEW! Toolkit: Work Reporting Requirements: State Considerations When Defining Medical Frailty, State Health and Value Strategies.
NEW! Fact Sheet: Big Drug Company Tactics Undermine Drug Pricing Reforms: The Case Against Orphan Drug Exemptions, Families USA.
NEW! Fact Sheet: Risk Adjustment 101: Protecting Access to High-Quality Health Care, Families USA.
NEW! Comment Letter: Families USA Submits Comments On Montana Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership (HELP) Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver, Families USA.
NEW! Poll: America’s Voters: We Demand Lower Healthcare Costs, Families USA.
UPDATED! Fact Sheets: The Importance of Premium Tax Credits: Affording Health Insurance Coast to Coast, Families USA.

THIS WEEK! For State Partners: Fall Campaign to Protect Health Care Call
- Join Families USA, Community Catalyst, CBPP, and NHeLP for our next Fall Campaign to Protect Health Care Call on Thursday, October 30 at 12 p.m. ET. As the government shutdown continues and we get closer to the November 1 open enrollment period start date, our advocacy for the permanent extension of the current enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs) continues to be crucial to both preventing skyrocketing health care costs for millions and to helping Congress reach the best deal possible.
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