Take Action - Medical Discrimination, Budget Cuts, Medicare For All (who want it)
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Judge Halts Trump Medical Discrimination
A federal judge appointed by Ronald Reagan on Monday accused the Trump administration of “appalling” and “palpably clear” discrimination against racial minorities and LGBTQ+ Americans. “I’ve never seen a record where racial discrimination was so palpable. I’ve sat on this bench now for 40 years. I’ve never seen government racial discrimination like this,” said U.S. District Judge William Young, a Massachusetts-based jurist who took the bench in 1985 (Politico)
Trump & Republicans Want Cuts - Americans Don’t
As Republican senators consider President Donald Trump’s big bill that could slash federal spending and extend tax cuts, a new survey shows most U.S. adults don’t think the government is overspending on the programs the GOP has focused on cutting, like Medicaid and food stamps.
Americans broadly support increasing or maintaining existing levels of funding for popular safety net programs, including Social Security and Medicare, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
The poll points to a disconnect between Republicans’ policy agenda and public sentiment around the domestic programs that are up for debate in the coming weeks.
Many Americans see Medicaid and food assistance programs as underfunded — even as Congress proposes significant cuts to Medicaid and food and nutrition assistance programs.
Roughly half (45%) of the public feel spending is too low for Medicaid and food and nutrition programs like SNAP. About 3 in 10 think current spending is about right.
That’s 75% in favor of not cutting Medicaid or nutrition assistance
I am appalled that the Congress thinks acting against the will of the people is a good idea.
Let’s let them know.
ACTION
Let’s contact our senators and members of Congress and remind them that 75% of Americans DO NOT WANT Medicaid or Nutrition Assistance programs cut. You can reach them here, https://fiscalnote.com/find-your-legislator.
Or Text SIGN PFSJVB to 50409 or to or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram to send this message.
“I am your constituent and I wanted you to know about a new national poll regarding the budget discussions in Congress. The poll was conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. They found that about half (45%) of all Americans think Medicaid and nutrition assistance programs are under funded but another 30% think those funding rates are appropriate. 75% of your constituents DO NOT WANT CUTS TO MEDICAID/NUTRITION ASSISTANCE.
Please pay attention to your constituents and vote against cutting those programs. Thank you.
Here is a link to the polling data for you, https://apnorc.org/projects/few-want-spending-on-federal-benefit-programs-reduced/”
Medicare Part E
When Congressman Jimmy Gomez was a little boy he had pneumonia. His parents did not have health insurance and his illness nearly bankrupted the family. This left an indelible mark on him and he has just taken action to help all of us because of it.
U.S. Representatives Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) and Don Beyer (VA-08) reintroduced the Choose Medicare Act, a bold proposal to open Medicare to all Americans with a new “Part E” and builds on the system we have today by allowing Medicare to compete with private health insurance. U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) have introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
The bill is supported by Families USA, MoveOn, American Federation of Teachers, the Center for Medicare Advocacy, and the Center for Health and Democracy.
Their legislation would create a new Medicare Part E and here is what it would do. Medicare “Part E” is a new health insurance option designed to pay for itself through premiums. It would be available on all state and federal health insurance marketplaces, and people could use their current Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies to help pay for it. Employers could also choose this option instead of private insurance to cover their workers.
The Choose Medicare Act:
Increases Access, Competition, and Choice
Open Medicare to employers of any size, allowing them to offer Medicare Part E to their employees without getting rid of their current insurance plans.
Ensures the same strong protections apply to everyone, no matter where they get their health insurance, and bans discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions.
Provides Comprehensive Coverage
Covers the ACA’s 10 essential health benefits, plus everything regular Medicare covers.
Provides high-quality, gold-level coverage and cost-sharing.
Guarantees access to a full range of reproductive health services, including abortion.
Improves Affordability
Sets a cap on how much people can pay out-of-pocket in traditional Medicare.
Expands help with premiums so more people qualify, no matter their income.
Allows Medicare to negotiate better prices for prescription drugs.
Helps lower private insurance premiums by increasing competition with Medicare.
Protects people in Part E plans from surprise medical bills, just like in traditional Medicare.
Full text of the Choose Medicare Act can be found by clicking here.
Essentially it is a starter for universal healthcare. Let’s start.
ACTION
Let’s contact our senators and members of Congress and let them know about Medicare Part E, the Choose Medicare Act.. You can reach them here, https://fiscalnote.com/find-your-legislator.
Or Text SIGN PVPSBD to 50409 or to or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram to send this message.
“I am your constituent and I want you to read about Medicare Part E. It is a public option insurance trust to pay private providers. Here is a link to the text of the Choose Medicare Act (Medicare Part E) that was just introduced in the House and the Senate. https://gomez.house.gov/uploadedfiles/choose_medicare_act_119th_congress.pdf
Here is what it will do:
The Choose Medicare Act:
Increases Access, Competition, and Choice
Open Medicare to employers of any size, allowing them to offer Medicare Part E to their employees without getting rid of their current insurance plans.
Ensures the same strong protections apply to everyone, no matter where they get their health insurance, and bans discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions.
Provides Comprehensive Coverage
Covers the ACA’s 10 essential health benefits, plus everything regular Medicare covers.
Provides high-quality, gold-level coverage and cost-sharing.
Guarantees access to a full range of reproductive health services, including abortion.
Improves Affordability
Sets a cap on how much people can pay out-of-pocket in traditional Medicare.
Expands help with premiums so more people qualify, no matter their income.
Allows Medicare to negotiate better prices for prescription drugs.
Helps lower private insurance premiums by increasing competition with Medicare.
Protects people in Part E plans from surprise medical bills, just like in traditional Medicare.
Medicare operates on a 2% margin, commercial insurance is between 12% and 20%. Commercial insurance wastes $400 billion every year in excess overhead denying claims and demanding pre-authorizations. Medicare does not.
Please read the bill and give it serious consideration. 60% of Americans want universal healthcare for all of us. This is a start. Now start.”
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Trump to VA - Delete Ethics - No
RESOURCES
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Organizations to Contact
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Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion
Planned Parenthood
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.
United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.
Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.
If you need financial help with an abortion try abortionfunds.org
Claims Denials and Appeals & What to Do
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Library of Advice, Specific Advice
Claims Denied
We can use the tool here to protest.