WASHINGTON, D.C., June 22, 2017—Today, the United States (U.S.) Senate made public the so-called Better Care Reconciliation Act (H.R. 1628). If passed, the bill would take away health insurance from millions of people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. While the full extent of its harm is not yet known because the bill has not yet been scored by the Congressional Budget Office, it is clear that the Senate is proposing to make health insurance less affordable and charge those with pre-existing conditions more money for coverage.
“The Trump administration and the Republican-led Congress need to stop playing politics with the lives and wellbeing of people. Repealing the Affordable Care Act will lead to devastating and irreparable consequences, including increased mortality rates, skyrocketing healthcare premiums, overcrowded emergency rooms, and limited insurance options. Callously denying access to affordable healthcare further underscores the Trump administration’s malice toward the nation’s most vulnerable, including the 1.8 million LGBTQ people who rely on Medicaid, the over 1 million LGBTQ older adults living with disabilities, and the 1.1 million people living with HIV,” said Rea Carey, executive director, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund.
An estimated 1 million LGBTQ people will lose coverage if the proposed Trumpcare is signed into law. The bill, in addition to defunding Planned Parenthood for a year and slashing Medicaid, reduces access to no-cost preventive services, imposes a nationwide ban on private insurance coverage of abortion, and guts essential health benefit protections, including maternity coverage, prescription drugs, life-saving cancer screenings, and HIV and STI testing and treatment.
The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund is mobilizing 200,000 members to call on U.S. Senators to vote against the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (A.C.A). For decades, the Task Force has worked to increase funding for and awareness of HIV and LGBTQ health care issues such as comprehensive reproductive health care. This work includes taking part in public education campaigns such as Bisexual Health Awareness Month and the publication of the Queering Reproductive Justice Toolkit. During the Obama administration, the organization partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services (H.H.S) to increase access to affordable healthcare among LGBTQ people.
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CONTACT:
Jorge Amaro
Media and Public Relations Director
213-842-7564
jamaro@thetaskforce.org