This action alert from the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF)
The House Energy & Commerce Committee will be completing its mark-up of H.R. 3200, the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, tomorrow morning (Wednesday). Congressman Deal (R-GA) has filed an amendment which would:
1. Require legal immigrants to wait five years from their date of entry to the United States before they could receive subsidies in the health insurance exchange.; and
2. Further require that all applicants for subsidies in the Exchange document their citizenship using Medicaid citizenship documentation.
CONTACT MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE ENERGY & COMMERCE COMMITTEE NOW TO OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT!
Low-income legal immigrants deserve the same access to subsidies as citizens. Legal immigrants pay federal, state, and local taxes just like citizens, and contribute to funding all of the health programs used by citizens.
Without access to subsidies, insurance will remain unaffordable for legal immigrants. Any waiting period means years without preventive care and a family doctor, increasing the risk of not identifying and treating diseases such as asthma, diabetes, hypertension or cancer.
Costly verification or documentation requirements will divide our families and keep eligible Americans from receiving care. We need to remove not add obstacles that will stand in the way of quality, affordable health care for everyone.
APIAHF is a member of the OMO Governing Body and OMO Health Data Task Force.
