Hi Friend, 

We all deserve affordable, accessible health care. But it’s been an
ongoing human rights issue here in the U.S. and it’s even further
exacerbated for incarcerated people. People in prison across the nation
who earn mere cents per hour are expected to pay fees in order to get
medical attention, making them choose between health care and everyday
necessities.

This ultimately leads to getting no care at all, worsening health
concerns, spreading of diseases, and higher medical costs in the
long-term. California is one of the states leading the way in dropping
these copays, but there are still 42 states that need to follow
suit.(1)(2) That’s why we’re joining with our partners to call on Congress
to end inmate copays nationwide because everyone deserves affordable
health care.

[ [link removed] ]Sign the petition demanding Congress make health care accessible to
people in prison.

Copays in prison can be as low as $5, but when workers are only making 14
to 63 cents per hour (and many don’t have outside resources to help
financially), the cost is astronomical. It would be equivalent of a
minimum wage workers paying hundreds of dollars just to see a doctor.(3)

Meanwhile, these copays barely contribute to correctional facilities’
health care budgets. When people in prison forgo treatments due to cost,
it’s more likely that the state will then have to pay for hospital stays
when health issues worsen. 

The current system of requiring inmate copays for health care benefits no
one and only serves to put human lives at risk. Congress needs to act now
to end these fees and prioritize health for all.

[ [link removed] ]Tell Congress: inmate copays puts lives at risk and they must end.

Yours in the fight,

Raquel, along with Analeeza, Annie, Brenna, Caitlin, Deepthi, Diego,
Eddie, Gabby, Lindsay, Mai, Mary, Molly, and Scottie (the Courage Campaign
team)

Footnotes:
1.
[ [link removed] ][link removed]
2. [ [link removed] ][link removed]
3. [ [link removed] ][link removed]



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Courage Campaign is an online organizing network that empowers more than 1.4 million grassroots and netroots activists to push for progressive change and full equality in California and across the country.

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