What’s the answer? The proposed Senate bill to replace ACA or Obamacare is just as bad as the House bill is for us. There’s not much new here.  Written only by men, there is a stark absence of concern for women’s health. Regardless of our income, our health (or options for health) will suffer if this bill becomes law.  As CNN Money puts it: being a woman (especially a woman of color) will become more expensive.

Below SuzyKnew! has highlighted a few key points from the bill with links to articles providing additional information.

1. Medicaid would be cut – 74 million Americans use medicaid to cover their health care costs.  According to statistics provided by Kaiser Permenante, almost three-fourths of medicaid enrollees are non-white. What’s more – Medicaid is incredibly important for reproductive health and family planning funding. Three-fourths of public money spent on family planning comes from medicaid. Cuts to medicaid mean cuts to health care that affects women of color.
2.  Abortion – including abortions for medical reasons – would be disallowed. Ladies, we would be unable to use our tax credits to buy insurance plans that cover abortion. Abortion “to save a woman’s life” or “in cases of rape and incest” would be exempt. But, there are many medical reasons why women need abortions – not to mention, of course, basic freedom as an American.
3.  Planned Parenthood would be defunded – No surprise here. Is there such a thing as a Republican-sponsored bill that doesn’t defund Planned Parenthood?  Maybe some of our news junkies out there can answer this one for us.
4. Insurance providers can opt out of providing maternity care.  Thinking about starting a family? Well, if this bill passes, you may want to become a millionaire before you do.  It costs between $30,000 – $50,000 to maintain a pregnancy and deliver a baby in America.  Maternity care in the U.S. is considered to be the most expensive in the world. Right now, Obamacare requires insurance plans to cover 10 essential medical benefits including pregnancy and maternity care.  The bill would scrap these requirements, allowing insurers to provide plans without maternity care.

Ladies, let your representatives – especially your Republican Senators – know you do not support a health care bill that adversely affects your health and the health of your loved ones.  Click here for a list of undecided Republican Senators who should hear your opinion.