SAT 2PM: UltraViolet, Portland Residents Rally to Urge Sen. Collins to Oppose the Repeal of the ACA

MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:  Saturday, May 13, 2017

CONTACT: Brett Abrams | 516-841-1105 | brett@unbendablemedia.com

SAT 2PM: Rally in Portland’s Lobsterman Park Urges Senator Collins to Oppose the Repeal of the Affordable Care Act

UltraViolet to Senator Collins: “Trumpcare Attacks Women, Don’t Take Our Health Care”

PORTLAND, MAINE — On Saturday, May 13th, local Portland residents and members of UltraViolet, a national women’s advocacy organization, will rally outside Senator Susan Collins office urging her to oppose the repeal of the Affordable Care Act.  The action comes after Republicans in the House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act last week in the beginning of their effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

Senator Collins will be a key vote in the Senate’s decision to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The action will feature signs reading: “Trumpcare attacks women” and “Don’t take our health care.”

WHEN:  Saturday, May 12th.  2:00pm ET.

WHERE: Lobsterman Park. 193 Middle St.  Portland, ME 04101

LOCAL CONTACT: Emma Gregg, 312-636-0915

Experts warn that the American Health Care Act may result in a loss of health insurance for around 24 million people and undermine protections for those with pre-existing conditions. Time gaps in insurance coverage would force many to pay large penalties over the next year, making quality coverage more difficult to attain. The legislation would also ban Medicaid patients from using their insurance at Planned Parenthood clinics and disallow individuals from using tax credits to purchase health insurance plans that cover abortion.

Experts also warn that the American Health Care Act would lead to pregnancy discrimination, meaning that women who have undergone a C-section or suffered from postpartum depression could be classified as having a pre-existing condition and be subject to premium discrimination.

Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of UltraViolet explained:

“Last week’s vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act was a declaration of war on women. With that vote, Republicans inched closer to bringing women back to a time before reproductive health care access and affordable health care coverage.

“The American Health Care Act will quite literally cost hundreds of thousands of women their lives, by eliminating guaranteed coverage of life-saving cervical and breast cancer screenings, abolishing comprehensive maternity care and domestic violence screenings, ‘defunding’ Planned Parenthood, and limiting women’s access to birth control and emergency contraception. For women and their families, the benefits provided by the Affordable Care Act are an indispensable lifeline that have allowed them to safeguard their health and plan their families to secure their economic prosperity.

“But the GOP healthcare plan is more than just an assault on women, it is the beginnings of a serious national healthcare crisis—one which will cut off millions of Americans from health insurance coverage. The Republican American Health Care Act will make it impossible for states to continue Medicaid expansion and sets the stage for deep cuts to Medicaid funding for seniors, low-income families, and children. The plan would increase healthcare costs, make coverage less affordable for all Americans, and spell disaster for those with pre-existing conditions—giving the wealthiest tax-cut bonuses while the average American suffers.

“Repealing the Affordable Care Act and replacing it with the Republican plan isn’t a solution, it’s an impending crisis for millions of Americans who can’t afford to lose their healthcare.  Senator Collins must oppose this bill and protect Maine’s families.”

Maine has more than 9,000 patients who have received care at Maine’s four Planned Parenthood centers in 2016.

To read stories from UltraViolet members who rely on the Affordable Care Act for health insurance coverage.  Each poster is available to talk to media about their stories: http://cantaffordtolose.com

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UltraViolet is an online community of over 1,000,000 women and men who want to take collective action to expose and fight sexism in the public sector, private sector and the media. Find out more at WeAreUltraViolet.org.

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