STATEMENT - People Power United supports healthy communities
🗽A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 7, 2024
People Power United, a grassroots group committed to championing progressive issues and power to the people, issued this statement in response to the announcement of more people insured in our communities due to the passage of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obama Care.
"Our communities are strong and secure when everyone has access to healthcare. Regardless of your zip code, the color of your skin, your age, or the money in your bank account, everyone deserves to be healthy and have access to care. The recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is a testament to what investment in our communities can do. People Power United applauds these efforts and encourages lawmakers to continue investing in our communities' health and well-being." - Laurie Woodward Garcia, leader of People Power United.
Here is the press release by Building Back Together:
WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that as a result of the Biden-Harris Administration’s huge investments in health care navigators via the Inflation Reduction Act, uninsured rates for communities of color across the country have dropped significantly — leading to record numbers of Americans with affordable, dependable health insurance. In celebration, Building Back Together Executive Director Mayra Macías released the following statement:
“Since the Affordable Care Act was passed, we have seen more and more people be able to afford quality, affordable health insurance for themselves and their families without breaking the bank. Today’s announcement from the Department of Health and Human Services proves what we all know — when you engage communities with empathy, cultural competency and dependability, you see positive results just like these.
“With an additional $500 million investment in health care navigator grants over the next five years, the Biden-Harris Administration has shown that they know there is more work to do to ensure that every person in the United States gets access to health insurance. I applaud these efforts and look forward to supporting the administration’s continued commitment to engage with communities of color to get folks the coverage they need and deserve.”
Since the Affordable Care Act was enacted, health care navigators — federally-funded enrollment assisters who work one-on-one with enrollees to answer questions, compare plans, and help folks understand their options — have led to huge gains in health insurance coverage. This includes:
The uninsured rate for Latinos has been cut nearly in half (45% drop – 32.7% to 18%)
The uninsured rate for Black Americans has been cut in half (48% drop – 20.9% to 10.8%)
The uninsured rate for Asian American and Pacific Islanders has been cut by more than 60% (63% drop – 16.6% to 6.2%)
The uninsured rate for American Indians and Alaska Natives has been cut by nearly 40% (39% drop – 32.4% to 19.9%)
For more information on this important announcement, see HHS’ fact sheet here.
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People Power United champions progressive values and power to the people.