Everyone should be able to see a doctor when they need to. But for many Americans this is not possible because they do not have healthcare coverage.
Currently, the Affordable Care Marketplace is providing 560,357 North Carolinians with healthcare coverage through the Affordable Care Act. This coverage not only benefits parents but it is also the first step in ensuring that children receive healthcare. Research shows that when parents are covered, their children are covered. The ACA provides a provision that allows parents to add or keep their children on their healthcare plan until the age of 26 so now over 2.3 million young people who would otherwise have been uninsured have gained coverage nationwide.
Children First's Success Equation
The Success Equation is asking community members to reach out to their congressional decision makers and asking them not to repeal the Affordable Care Act until they have a replacement in place. This replacement should maintain 3 key pieces from the current Affordable Care Act: It should provide affordable healthcare coverage for Americans at all income levels, parents’ should be able to keep their children on their plan until age 26, and there should not be any discrimination for pre-existing conditions.
TAKE ACTION
Call your North Carolina Congressional decision makers. The call typically only takes a few minutes and the person answering the phone is usually an aide to the elected official or you may leave a voicemail. Their job is to keep a tally of how many constituents are calling in support or opposition of an issue. You don’t have to be prepared for a debate; you don’t need to be an expert on the issue; you just need to know how you stand on the issue. Here is a template of what you can say:
“My name is _______ and I am calling from ________ County. I am asking you not to repeal the Affordable Care Act until there is a replacement in place that provides affordable healthcare for everyone, does not discriminate for pre-existing conditions, and allows parents to keep their children on their plan until the age of 26.
Look up your district: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members
- Representative Mark Meadows: (202) 225-6401
- Representative Patrick McHenry: 202.225.2576
- Senator Richard Burr: (202) 224-3154
- Senator Thom Tillis: (202) 224-6342
Find out how you can get involved with the Success Equation, where you can be involved in helping prevent and reduce poverty so all children can thrive. Sign up for their action alerts or contact Jodi Ford at JodiF@childrenfirstbc.org or call 828-620-9091 or go to their Advocacy Toolkits at www. http://childrenfirstcisbc.org/effective-advocate-tool-kits-local-state-federal-actions
