Act Now to Preserve Health Care for
People with Disabilities and Seniors
The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities is joining the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO) to urge our members to participate in call-in days Tuesday, January 31 and Wednesday, February 1. We hope you and your members will participate by calling your Senators and House members to protect for the ACA, Medicaid and Medicare.
The new President and the new Congress are moving quickly to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, and major cuts to and restructuring of Medicaid and Medicare may not be far behind. We must let policymakers know that these changes will hurt seniors and people with disabilities.
Action Needed This Week
Please encourage as many of your members as possible to participate and promote the day on your email list and social media channels.
The call-in number will be 866-426-2631.
Thanks to SEIU for providing the toll-free call-in number. Those who call will hear a brief overview of the issues and will be asked to enter their zip code before being transferred to their members of Congress.
Below are talking points you might use for the calls, although groups can design their own:
No repeal of the ACA without simultaneous replacement
If Congress votes to repeal the ACA, a replacement package that provides equivalent or improved access to affordable, quality health coverage must be included in the same legislation.
No cuts to and restructuring of Medicaid
Seniors and people with disabilities rely on the Medicaid program. It is the primary public source of funding for long-term services and supports. Program cuts, along with block grant or per capita cap proposals would hurt people who have no alternative means of paying for essential services.
Preserve Medicare for current and future seniors and people with disabilities
Medicare is a huge success story, with strong support from all Americans. Premium support and other restructuring proposals to shift more costs onto beneficiaries would make health care far less affordable and accessible to seniors and people with disabilities.
Tony Paulauski
Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
708-828-0188 (CELL)
Tony@thearcofil.org