The Affordable Care Act and LGBTQ Communities

Update: Friday, 3/24 the legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act was pulled from consideration on the House floor.

Update: Thursday, 5/04 a revised version of the legislation is up for a vote in the House at 1:00pm today. It’s time for one final push to make your voice heard.

Please call (202) 224-3121 to be connected to your representative and let them know vote NO on the bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. You can also look up your representative and find out more information on how to contact them up here.

Do you agree with us that healthcare is – or should be – a right and not a privilege?

Did you know that LGBTQ people are more than twice as likely to be uninsured as non-LGBTQ people? That LGBTQ people in the United States are more likely to live in poverty? We know that LGBTQ people experience worse health outcomes than our straight and cisgender counterparts. And we know that under the Affordable Care Act, 20 million Americans – many of whom are LGBTQ – gained health insurance and stand to lose this critical coverage if the ACA is changed or repealed.  In New York State alone, 2.7 million people stand to lose coverage.

At Callen-Lorde alone, the rate of uninsured patients dropped from 37% to 26% of total patients between 2012 and 2015 – nearly 1,200 fewer Callen-Lorde patients are uninsured today than in 2012, a 26% decrease.  At the same time, we see the benefits of expanded Medicaid coverage playing out, with a 40% increase in the number of our patients with Medicaid between 2012 and 2015.

Through the Affordable Care Act we’ve seen tremendous advantages to the health and wellness of our communities. Interrupting or reversing these advances would be truly devastating not only to the health of our communities but to the healthcare system at large.

It’s a quick and easy way to make your voice heard to the people who represent you. Take action!