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Make A Call For Health Care For All Today

By July 6, 2009No Comments

Health Reform For All

As health costs continue to rise three times faster than wages, families in America will work harder and have less to show for it. We need to keep what’s right and fix what’s broken in the health system. We seek health insurance to cover all people regardless of pre-existing conditions, and even if they switch or lose jobs. People should have the choice of a public or private option, even if their employer pays for it. Health reform gives states like Illinois and California the opportunity to lower health costs for all Americans by making sure that federal law acknowledges the health costs of low income families who are earning, including immigrants.

Make one call today to support immigrants in health reform.

NAKASEC and affiliates are responding to draft legislation that was released from the Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee on June 9, the Tri-Committee in the House on June 19, and the draft Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2009 that was released by the Tri-Caucus on June 26. During a telephonic townhall on June 11, Rep. Xavier Becerra (CA-31), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, fielded a question from the Korean Resource Center on his priorities for immigrant inclusion – listen to his response (22:45 mark).

One of our top concerns is the need to repeal the federal five-year bar on services to legal immigrants. Under current federal law, states are permitted to deny coverage to certain low-income families if they are lawfully present in the United States for less than five years.  A provision that would repeal the five-year bar does not exist in any of the draft legislation referenced above; however, it does appear in the Senate Finance committee’s health reform proposal.

Call today and say:
“I want [name of Senator or Representative] to include immigrants in health reform. Immigrants pay the same taxes as citizens, and deserve to be treated the same as citizens in all aspects of health reform. I want [name of Senator or Representative] to give legal immigrants equal access to Medicaid with the five year bar eliminated from Medicaid. In addition, all kids deserve health care, and health reform should allow affordable coverage for all children in America, including immigrant kids.”

You can click here to find your Congressmember.

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