Protecting Health Care for Moms and Babies is Non-Negotiable
Over the last several months, we at 1,000 Days watched closely as policymakers sought to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). For young children and their families, high-quality health care coverage is a foundational investment in healthier and more prosperous futures.
Thanks to the ACA, all health insurance plans – including employer-based plans – must provide women and children with health services during pregnancy, childbirth, infancy and beyond. And no woman can be denied coverage or charged higher costs because of pre-existing conditions like breast cancer, pregnancy, C-sections, and diabetes.
But efforts to repeal the ACA puts this all at risk.
As the House Republicans put forth their proposal to repeal and replace the ACA in early March – the American Health Care Act – 1,000 Days and its community mobilized and took action. Thousands of people spoke out and told Congress to protect comprehensive health insurance for women and young children. Dozens of people shared with us their personal stories of why health care matters.
In the end, the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives called off the vote on the American Health Care Act. This means that, for now, millions of hard-working families with young children will not have to pay more money for lower quality health insurance. A later version of the proposed bill even threatened to remove such basic services as maternity care and pediatric visits.
While the House bill stalled, this looks to be just the beginning.
Even now, on the eve of the congressional recess, rumors are circulating that the House will again try to pass a health care repeal bill. As such, 1,000 Days and its community will remain vigilant.
Earlier this week we delivered our community’s petition signatures and personal stories to Members of Congress to let them know that we are watching what they do next.
Ultimately, the health of moms and babies must be a national priority. This means ensuring that women have the health coverage they need to have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. This is non-negotiable.