Press Release - Oct 16, 2017 - The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) condemns the multiple new attacks on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) from the Trump administration in the past 24 hours. These attacks undermine our health care system, will raise costs for everyone, and threaten the lives of people with disabilities. ASAN calls on Congress to step up to the plate and exercise real leadership by passing a bipartisan bill that will restore funding for Cost Sharing Reductions, protect and fully fund Open Enrollment, and shield the American people from future attacks on our health care.
The recent actions from the White House hurt our country in multiple ways. The executive order signed yesterday threatens critical protections for people with disabilities by making it easier for insurance companies to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions. It also allows insurers to sell junk coverage that doesn’t cover critical services and won’t protect consumers from soaring health care costs. In addition, last night’s decision to withhold funding for Cost Sharing Reductions will raise costs for everyone, but particularly for working- and middle-class Americans who rely on this basic assistance to afford health insurance. These actions will directly harm millions of people and are without justification.
The American people have clearly and repeatedly rejected these kinds of proposal over the past nine months. As ASAN has stated in the past, any future attempts at health care reform must meet the needs of all Americans, leave the Medicaid program intact, and proactively include the disability community from the beginning of the process. ASAN calls on the Trump administration to listen to the voices of everyday Americans, stop the attacks on our health care, and support a bipartisan process in Congress. Our government must work to develop thoughtful and carefully considered proposals that make healthcare better for everyone and increase access to quality, affordable coverage rather than endangering the lives of people with disabilities.
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by and for autistic people. ASAN was created to serve as a national grassroots disability rights organization for the autistic community run by and for autistic Americans, advocating for systems change and ensuring that the voices of autistic people are heard in policy debates and the halls of power. Our staff work to educate communities, support self-advocacy in all its forms, and improve public perceptions of autism. ASAN’s members and supporters include autistic adults and youth, cross-disability advocates, and non-autistic family members, professionals, educators, and friends.
source: press release
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