John,

The agreement made by Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Manchin to extend the Affordable Care Act premium tax credit subsidies for three years is laudable. But it still includes a coverage gap that leaves 2 million low-income adults uninsured because they live in states that refuse to expand Medicaid.

Sixty percent of the people in that gap are people of color. This is why expanding coverage to include them isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s also a major way to advance racial health equity.

Write to your senators and representative right now and demand they close the Medicaid coverage gap to ensure 2 million low-income adults can access health care services.

In states that have expanded Medicaid, the uninsured rates between Black, Latino, and white communities have all narrowed and there’s been a reduction in certain chronic illnesses.

Many of the states that have refused to expand Medicaid have long histories of racial discrimination in housing, employment, and fundamental constitutional rights, such as the right to vote.

It’s up to all of us to stand up for the most marginalized and demand Congress close the coverage gap and make sure 2 million low-income adults have the insurance coverage they deserve.

You can read Deborah’s email below to learn more.

With you in this fight,

Nicolai Haddal
Field and Events Manager, Coalition on Human Needs

-- DEBORAH’S EMAIL --

John,

An agreement has been announced by Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Manchin to extend the Affordable Care Act premium tax credit subsidies for 3 years and to pay for it by allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices.  That is good news, and we need to make sure every member of Congress knows how important it is to get these provisions to final passage. 

But so far it looks like the agreement is leaving out more than 2 million low-income adults without insurance because they live in states that refuse to expand their Medicaid programs.

Demand Congress right this wrong. Tell them not to leave 2 million people uninsured!

Sixty percent of these 2 million are people of color. More than 800,000 are women of reproductive age, at a time when maternal mortality rates are climbing, with disproportionately high maternal death rates for Black and Latina women.

The goal of reducing health insurance costs will be denied to people with annual incomes below the federal poverty line of $13,590 because they live in states that have refused them Medicaid coverage. Current law excludes them from access to Affordable Care Act insurance; only people above the poverty line can get ACA coverage. This is a wrong the new reconciliation bill can and must address.

People with an annual incomes below the federal poverty level feel the pain from all sides. Inflation hurts them the most, and the lack of medical care during a time of multiple public health crises is inhumane.

Everyone deserves access to health care. Tell Congress to close the Medicaid coverage gap!

America is the wealthiest nation on Earth. We can afford to take care of the most marginalized of us and Congress needs to act to make sure that we do.

Thank you for all that you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs