Contact:
Sarah de Guia, CPEHN, 510-832-1160
Rebecca DeLaRosa, LCHC, 916-448-3234 x 2012
In a new Spanish-language marketing campaign, Congressional Republicans say that the Affordable Care Act will be replaced with something better. They’re offering false promises and putting lives in danger.
“We’ve glimpsed a better future with the Affordable Care Act. We don’t want to roll back progress. Republicans are putting politics before good policy. Pulling the plug on ACA is playing with people’s lives,” said Sarah de Guia, executive director of the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN), a multicultural policy organization.
The Republican plan is unknown, but here’s what we do know: The ACA has expanded health choices, lowered costs, and protected consumers from discriminatory insurance practices. California has enrolled more people in ACA than any other state and has reaped the benefits – stronger, healthier communities that make the Golden State the sixth-largest economy in the world.
“At LCHC, we are appalled at the Republican campaign targeting our community with false promises. Latinos already face health disparities in diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and other chronic diseases. Obamacare has protected Latino families with preexisting conditions to be able to access critical services and not denied access to care. If we allow a repeal without a clear replacement plan we will be putting millions of people’s lives at risk,” said Rebecca DeLaRosa.
The Latino community in California saw increases in health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act, along with many other racial/ethnic groups. Over 1.6 million Latinos gained coverage as a result of the Affordable Care Act. And, California has gone above and beyond to offer coverage for ALL children regardless of immigration status.
Congressional Republicans representing the Central Valley have voted to repeal ACA, even though their constituents have particularly benefited from the expanded health care access. A recent report on the ACA showed that the rates of uninsured people dropped 54% in San Joaquin and 68% in Stanislaus counties. In Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare Counties the number of the uninsured declined by as much as 57%. By giving more people to access health care, ACA has allowed people to live healthier lives and contribute to the prosperity of their communities.
Our families, communities, and state have gained so much thanks to ACA. Let’s keep moving forward.
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