Celebrating 4th Anniversary of Affordable Care Act, Looking Forward to #Health4All

March 18, 2014

March 23, 2014 will mark the 4th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act into law. President Obama said on that day, “that we are not a nation that scales back its aspirations.” The Affordable Care Act has helped millions of Americans gain access to affordable health care for the first time and will eventually help millions more. It has helped lower the costs of health care for millions more while ensuring that that they cannot be forced off of their health care or denied coverage due to a new or pre-existing condition. The Affordable Care Act has helped young adults who are struggling to get by after the recession stay on their parent’s health care plans until they are 26, helping a generation of “Young Invincibles” to get, and stay covered.

We are proud of the work that we did in the fight for health care reform. California Partnership was one of the leaders of the fight, helping to deliver the votes of the entire Los Angeles contingent of Congress, more than a dozen votes. We are also proud to be leading in the fight to finish the job. The Affordable Care Act is a great success, but it will still leave several million people in California without access to affordable health care.

As many as 4 million of our neighbors, friends, co-workers, and members of our families are expected to be uninsured in the next few years. Many of them will be uninsured because they are excluded from accessing the reforms of the Affordable Care Act because of their immigration status. We are on the front lines of the fight to end this injustice. We are co-sponsoring SB 1005 (LARA,) the #Health4All Bill in California’s State Senate. The #Health4All Bill will break down the barriers that prevent people who are undocumented from accessing expanded Medi-Cal and the Covered California health exchange by building a parallel system to provide these services to ALL Californians. We are also pushing County Officials in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Kern County, and Fresno County to create robust systems of health care coverage that will be accessible to people who are uninsured, who may be undocumented and to anyone who is struggling to escape poverty.

We are proud to fight this fight, and we hope that you will join us. On March 18th, at 11:00 am we will be joining with Health Access, CIPC, Planned Parenthood LA and SEIU-UHW to release a report on the great success of the Affordable Care Act. We will also be joined by people who have been directly affected by the changes brought on by the Affordable Care Act, as well as those who are still excluded.

For more information about tomorrow’s event please see below. Sign up to hear more about us, and visit us on Facebook and Twitter.

MEDIA ADVISORY
March 18, 2014

MEDIA CONTACT: Zoe Woodcraft, Full Court Press, 510-550-8172

HEALTH CARE ADVOCATES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS
TO HOST CELEBRATION OF 4TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

Event in Los Angeles will be first of four events around the state

California Health Leaders will preview report on the impact of the ACA for California - including California-specific legislation to improve the ACA, the number of Californians newly insured, and the work still to be done


WHAT:
On Tuesday, March 18, healthcare advocates will hold a press conference in Los Angeles to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the Affordable Care Act and to talk about its impact in California.

This event is the first of four around the state, starting in Southern California and moving north, leading up to the final celebration on Sunday, March 23, in Sacramento. The events will feature community members and advocates who will share their stories about how the ACA has changed their lives.

Speakers will also preview the release of a new report on the Affordable Care Act, “Mission Advanced but Not Accomplished: Four Years of the Affordable Care Act,” on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the historic law.

SPEAKERS: Celinda Vasquez, Vice President of Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles

Spike Dolomite Ward, Community Member and Breast Cancer Survivor – now able to sign up for health care through CoveredCA

Jim Mangia, President & CEO, St. John’s Well Child & Family Center

Val Katz, Community Member – her family can now get access to health care through CoveredCA

Patricia Veliz Macal, Promotora, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles

Betsy Estudillo, Health Organizer, California Immigrant Policy Center

 

**Note – bilingual Spanish speakers will be participating in this event. **

 

LOS ANGELES PRESS CONFERENCE DETAILS
Where:
Planned Parenthood at 400 W. 30th St., Los Angeles 90007 (Ballroom A)
When: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at 11:00am
Event Contact: Muneera Gardezi, 310-597-2083

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