Ominous October

October has been an ominous month for women’s health and rights. In case you missed it, here’s what’s been happening in Washington:

• On September 30, Congress let federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) expire, pulling the rug out from more than 8.9 million children who rely on CHIP for access to basic health care. It’s projected that more than half (32) of states will run out of federal CHIP funding by March 2018, with children of color being disproportionately impacted.

• On October 6, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released two rules (religious and moral) impacting access to birth control coverage under the Affordable Care Act. This rule will allow virtually any employer to deny their employees access to contraceptive coverage, and will affect coverage for more than 62 million women.

• Last week the HHS also released their strategic plan (optimistically projected for FY 2018-2022), which drastically de-prioritizes women’s health and families by putting faith over science, and denouncing abortion as health care.  

• What’s more, President Trump signed a twofold executive order that will force people to pay more for less coverage, at the same time taking away their ability to make their out-of-pocket payments in full. The EO will essentially cripple the structure of the open enrollment marketplace by allowing insurers to sell skimpier coverage and creating sick “pools”. The EO also states that the administration will stop payments for cost sharing reductions, which help low income enrollees reduce their out-of-pocket costs for care.

It’s clear that since Congress’s failed attempt to pass multiple versions of Trumpcare this summer, the administration is now launching an all-out sabotage on the ACA.

If you’re wondering how you can fight back against this anti-women’s health administration, start here:

1. Click here to send a message telling Trump to take his hands off our birth control. Nearly 9 in 10 women of reproductive age will use contraception at some point in their lives, whether for family planning or other medical reasons like treating endometriosis. Birth control should be treated like any other preventive medical care.

2. One of Trump’s tactics to undermine the ACA has been to cut the open enrollment insurance period in half… and tell virtually no one about the update. Spread the word to your friends and family members by letting them know the enrollment period begins November 1, and they have until December 15 to sign up. Click here to for more information.

3. If you have more time, call your Senators. The Senate goes back into session next week, and we know women’s health and rights will be a crucial part of the conversation. Click to call here and tell your state representatives to Stand with Planned Parenthood. We will not stand for politicians taking us backwards!