This Week, Remind Members of Congress What Affordable Care Act Repeal Means for Women

This week Congress is out of session on “recess,” meaning members are back in their home states and you—the constituent—have the opportunity to make your voice heard.
Here’s what you might want to say:
“Senator, like the 7.8 million women across the country who have gained health insurance coverage since 2013, my economic security depends on my health insurance. In Virginia, more than 220,000 women rely on Medicaid for health insurance coverage and more than 120,000 women, including more than 99,000 women of color, have gained health coverage thanks to the Affordable Care Act. And I have loved ones, including a four year old nephew with a severe heart condition, who rely on the law’s protections to continue to have quality health insurance. Will you commit to keeping the Affordable Care Act, so we can continue to access the health care we need?”
At least that’s what I would say if I still lived in my home state of Virginia. But as a D.C. resident I don’t have a Senator to represent my interests, so I’m depending on you to spend this recess reminding your members of Congress of the harm of ACA repeal, particularly for women. And we have some info to help you do it.
ACA Repeal Would be Devastating for Women Across the Country
The ACA has been a game-changer for women. Thanks to the ACA, in 2015, nearly 92 percent of women and girls had health insurance.

  • Repeal threatens the health and economic security of 7.8 million women across the country who gained health coverage since 2013.
  • Repeal gambles with the health of women of color, 5.1 million of whom recently gained coverage. Women of color make up nearly two-thirds of women who could lose insurance if the ACA is repealed.
  • Repeal jeopardizes Medicaid coverage for the 3.9 million women across the country who have gained Medicaid coverage since 2013. Of the 3.9 million, 2.3 million are working women.

Repeal Would be Devastating for Women in Every State
Repeal means tens of thousands, and in many cases hundreds of thousands, of women in every state will be harmed. For example,

  • In Florida, 628,870 women, including 460,719 women of color, gained health coverage since 2013, and ACA repeal puts their coverage at risk.
  • In Ohio, repeal puts in jeopardy the health coverage of 202,480 women that gained Medicaid coverage.
  • In Nevada, the state with largest growth rate of women who gained health coverage, 119,230 women could lose their coverage.

To remind your members of Congress what it means for tens thousands of women in your state, check out these resources.
Repeal Would be Devastating for You
And once you’ve reminded your members of Congress that ACA repeal would affect millions across the country, and tens of thousands in your state, tell them how ACA repeal affects your life and the lives of those you love. Tell them this law is important to you, and you won’t stand for repeal.

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