Storming the Court for Health Reform

Dear Friends,

Break out the birthday candles, because health care reform turns two years old today!  While we still have a couple of years until the biggest changes in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) kick in, it’s clear that the law is already improving our community’s access to health care.  

Gone are the days when insurers could charge co-pays for preventive services, like well-child visits or cancer screenings.  Insurers can also no longer cap your lifetime benefits or deny coverage for children with preexisting health conditions.  Millions of uninsured Latinos can potentially be covered through the expansion of Medicaid and new insurance marketplaces (known as Exchanges).  And the law has already helped many young Latinos—many of whom are new to the workforce—from going uninsured:  about 750,000 young Latino adults under age 26 have been able to stay on their parents’ health insurance plans instead of losing coverage after high school or college.

But the ACA is literally on trial, and our health—and more—is at stake.  Next week, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear three days of oral arguments on challenges to the law that have implications not only for the foundation of our entire health care system, but also decades of civil rights law. 

That’s why we need you on Twitter TODAY to virtually “storm the Court!”  Together with our partners Families USA, Moms Rising, and Young Invincibles, NCLR is celebrating the ACA’s two-year anniversary with a Twitter storm to elevate the need to protect health care reform and access to affordable, quality health care for our communities.  It’s happening today, Friday, March 23, all day long.  

Join the conversation at #HCRatStake or tweet us at @NCLR; we’ll be re-tweeting and sharing your stories!  Tell us how you will benefit from health care reform and why you think it is important to protect.  New to Twitter?  Create an account or check out some frequently asked questions to get started.  

Here are some sample tweets to get you started: 

• Today 72 preventive services are free because of #ACA. Tomorrow you could be charged if #SCOTUS overturns the law. #HCRatStake
• About 750K  #Latino young adults > age 26 have gained health cvg thanks to #ACA. Are u one of them? #HCRatStake
• 1 in 3 #Latinos is uninsured. The #ACA will change that—unless the law is overturned. #HCRatStake