ACTION ALERT: Tell Your Representative to Vote YES on Health Care Reform!

Health Care Reform IS an LGBT Issue!
Tell Your Representative to Vote YES on Reform!

We are so close to the finish line in health care reform: the House of Representatives hopes to vote on reform THIS WEEK.

While the bill isn’t perfect, it is a huge step forward in making health care affordable and accessible for all, including the LGBT community. The bill includes:

• Improved data collection on disparity factors, including “any...demographic data as deemed appropriate by the Secretary regarding health disparities” – this will likely include sexual orientation and gender identity 
• Non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in federal grants for mental health education and training 
• $8.5 billion in funds for community health centers 
• Prohibition of insurance exclusions based on pre-existing conditions 
• Extension of insurance coverage to approximately 31 million uninsured people

In 2007, 50% of spending on health in the U.S. was used to treat just 5% of the population, and an estimated 45,000 people die every year in this country because they do not have insurance coverage. The status quo harms our community and our families, and we deserve better. 

Tell your Representative to pass health care reform NOW.

To contact your member of Congress, dial the House switchboard at (202) 224-3121, give your zip code, and ask to speak to your Representative. When you are connected to your Representative’s office, tell them that you are a constituent who supports reform and wants your Representative to vote YES on reform. Take action today!