Blogs

TO: Advocacy Points of Contact

FROM: YWCA USA Public Policy & Advocacy

DATE: January 12, 2017

SUBJECT: Protect the ACA

Dear Advocacy Points of Contact,

Despite loud opposition from their constituents, the Senate has just passed S.Con.Res 3, the budget resolution which is the first step in repealing the Affordable Care Act. The House will vote tomorrow on the Senate passed budget resolution.

Repealing the Affordable Care Act, especially without a comprehensive, well-vetted, comparable replacement plan is detrimental to women's health across the country.

You can help!

Call your Representatives TODAY and urge them to vote against S.Con.Res.3.

ACT NOW: Representatives are expected to vote on the resolution tomorrow.

Step 1: Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your Representative's office, or find your Representative's direct line here.

Step 2: Tell them:

My name is [your name] and I am calling from [your city/state and, if applicable, your organization].

I urge you to oppose S.Con.Res.3, which will begin the process to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Repealing the ACA without a viable replacement plan risks far too much for women and families across the country.

Sample Talking Points:

• Repealing the Affordable Care Act could mean that women once again pay more for their health insurance policies than men, simply because of their gender.
• If the Affordable Care Act is repealed, women could be denied coverage for having pre-existing conditions, and insurance companies could deny survivors coverage for injuries they sustain from domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Repealing the Affordable Care Act could roll back protections for birth control and maternity care.
• Repealing the Affordable Care Act could take away health insurance from over 30 million people.

[Add additional concerns, or your personal story]

Please vote NO on S.Con.Res.3 to protect the Affordable Care Act from repeal.

Step 3: Email us at advocacy@ywca.org to let us know you've acted.

Step 4: Share this action alert with your networks, allies, and constituents.

Step 5: Share your concerns on social media.

Social media posts are also a great way to make your views known.

Sample tweets and Facebook posts are available below. Use #ProtectOurCare and/or #CareNotChaos.

Find your Representatives and their contact information here. Be sure to say you are a constituent! Find your Senators' Twitter handles here.

Sample Facebook Post:

[YWCA association name does not] OR [I do not] support repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Repealing the ACA without a viable replacement plan risks far too much for women and families across the country. Women depend on the ACA for access to birth control and maternity care, health insurance policies that are equal in price to men's policies, and quality health insurance coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions. A repeal could change all that. [Tag Representative of choice] vote NO on S.Con.Res.3 to protect the Affordable Care Act!

Sample Tweets:

• [Representative's Twitter Handle] Remember when women had to pay more for health insurance, just because of their gender? Repealing #ACA could revert us back to that
• [Representative's Twitter Handle] Repealing the #ACA could force women to pay more for less coverage, simply for their gender. #ProtectOurCare #CareNotChaos
• [Representative's Twitter Handle] Nobody wants to be denied coverage for having pre-existing conditions. Don't repeal the #ACA. #ProtectOurCare #CareNotChaos
• [Representative's Twitter Handle] If #ACA is repealed, insurance companies could deny survivors coverage for injuries they sustain from #DV & sexual assault.
• [Representative's Twitter Handle] Repealing the #ACA could roll back access to birth control and maternity care.
• [Representative's Twitter Handle] Repealing the ACA could take away health insurance from over 30 million people. Don't repeal #ACA! #CareNotChaos
• [Representative's Twitter Handle] #WOC face disparities in access to quality, accessible healthcare. #ACA has helped reduce this gap. A repeal would hurt progress.

Sincerely,

YWCA USA Public Policy & Advocacy