YWCA Fights for Health Care Reform

Join YWCA to tell Congress that now is the time to pass comprehensive health care reform that makes women better-not worse-off!

Quality, affordable health care is critical to the well-being of women, children and people of color. But too many people in the United States have inadequate health care coverage or no coverage at all. Today, there are 46 million people who are currently uninsured in the U.S. Many more are underinsured with limited coverage that excludes necessary procedures, treatments, tests or medicines. Congress is now in the process of passing health care reform that can help women and families and advocates must tell Congress not to make women worse off under health care reform. Join us to tell Congress to support real healthcare reform that does not put women's health in jeopardy.

Background: On Saturday, November 7, 2009 the House of Representatives passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) by a vote of 220 to 215. H.R. 3962 would:

• provide healthcare coverage to an estimated 96% of the population;
• expand Medicaid to all individuals under 150% of the poverty line, or $33,075 for a families of four;
• provide assistance to individuals and families up to 400% of the poverty line or $88,000 for a family of four;
• allow young adults to stay covered under their parent's health insurance plan until age 27;
• end the practice by the health insurance industry of denying or ending coverage to women and families as a result of preexisting conditions including c-sections, being a victim of domestic violence or rape;
• eliminate co-pays for preventive care and annual and lifetime benefit limits;
• cap out-of-pocket healthcare expenses;
• create a public option plan to compete with private health insurance companies.

During consideration of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, the House passed an amendment that was introduced by conservative Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak and Joe Pitts (R-PA) and passed 240-194. The amendment would severely restrict women's access to abortion procedures.

The focus now moves to the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is working on merging the healthcare reform bills passed by the Senate Finance Committee and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee into one comprehensive bill. It is unclear when this final Senate bill will be completed.

Call your Senators and tell them to support real health care for women!