09/20/2017

Paper chain cut out of a family of four holding hands. The cut out is on a desk with medical professional, and business tools.

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

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