The Senate is moving forward next week with a vote to pass the latest healthcare proposal, written by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.). The Graham-Cassidy proposal would repeal the Affordable Care Act's (ACA's) Medicaid expansion, premium tax credits, and other beneficial programs. States will be able to waive protections for people with pre-existing conditions. This bill will be devastating to people with disabilities and their families, women and children, seniors, low-income Americans, and threaten access to community living, employment opportunities, & educational supports.
Call your Senators and tell them to oppose the Graham-Cassidy healthcare bill. To connect to your Senator, use the Capitol switchboard, 202-224-3121.
If passed, the Graham-Cassidy healtcare bill would:
- Reduce federal funding to states by $215 Billion
- End Medicaid expansion providing coverage for 11 million people
- Impose per capita caps cuts coverage for children and people with disabilities
- Eliminate protections on pre-existing conditions and lifetime caps
- Shift per capita caps and block grants costs to states
- Weaken current consumer protections that limit consumers' out-of-pocket spending and prohibit insurance companies from capping benefits
Medicaid is a lifeline for 7 million low-income seniors. Medicaid covers 2 in 3 nursing home residents. With nursing home care often costing about $100,000 a year, seniors quickly run through their life savings before turning to Medicaid. The latest healthcare proposal would harm older Americans with chronic conditions because it would allow states to let insurance companies significantly increase premiums for those with pre-existing conditions. Nearly half of Americans aged 50-64 have a pre-existing condition for which they could have been denied coverage prior to the ACA. The bill's changes to age rating and tax credits will dramatically increase the financial burden of older Americans and make coverage significantly less affordable, especially for those with modest incomes, and likely will cause many to go without coverage and necessary care.
Spread the Word: No Cuts! No Caps! Save Medicaid!
Stand with millions of Americans in saying cuts and caps to Medicaid would be devastating to people with disabilities, seniors, women and children, and low-income Americans. Attend as many events as possible, flood social media, call your members of congress starting today!
Friday, September 22
- Join national call with Senator Casey's staff, CCD experts, and other advocates at 2pm EST
- Call-in number: 1-719-457-0816. Guest code is 751-426#
Monday, September 25
- CCD National Call-in Day
- Everyone needs to participate; spread the word and share the Call-in Day Facebook event!
Tuesday, September 26
- If you are in DC, please attend press conference sponsored by Senator Casey including Senators Wyden and Hassan and many others advocates
- 11:30am EST on East Capitol Lawn
Tweet, Facebook, write letters, and send short videos to your Members of Congress with stories of how cuts to Medicaid will have severe impacts to people with disabilities, seniors, women and children, and low-income Americans. Together, we can make a difference!
Additional Resources
- Association of University Centers on Disabilities Save Medicaid Toolkit
- Fact Sheets and Talking Points for protecting Medicaid and the ACA
- Information on how Medicaid caps would impact people with disabilities, what it would mean in your state, and what you can do
- Avalere: Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson Bill Would Reduce Federal Funding to States by $215 Billion
- CBPP: Like Other ACA Repeal Bills, Cassidy-Graham Plan Would Add Millions to Uninsured, Destabilize Individual Market
- NHeLP: Top 10 Threats Under the Graham-Cassidy Bill
- Letter from LA Secretary of Health regarding concerns of the Graham-Cassidy Bill
- CAP: coverage loss numbers
