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Your top #5Actions for this week: Friday, July 8, 2022
Summer is in full swing – and the fight for our rights is still very much on. So while you soak in some sun, we ask that you take these quick health and justice related actions: We must ensure everyone who needs abortion care has access to this care, that healthcare remains affordable and prices don’t rise to levels that the average family can’t afford, and that maternal mental health services and research is funded and accessible in an equitable way. (Historically, women’s health research has been underfunded resulting in major disparities especially in Maternal Mental Health.) Lastly, thanks to your stories, we’re happy to report that due to your signatures and support, we have positive updates on the formula shortage to share with you.
Together, we can raise our collective voice and push forward, making sure these essential health care services are accessible to everyone in every place.
-- Selina, Felicia, Tasmiha, Gina, Diarra, Elyssa, Kristin, and the rest of the MomsRising.org & MamásConPoder Team
What will happen if Congress doesn't prevent a healthcare price hike?
Nearly nine million Americans may see massive insurance premium hikes, and three million people could lose coverage altogether if Congress allows the subsidies from the American Rescue Plan to expire. Do you buy your own health insurance through the Marketplace? Congress can take action now to stop price increases and needs to hear from you.
Share your story so Congress can take action to prevent health care price hikes!
Tell Congress to prevent a health care price hike!
In 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan, which lowered health insurance premiums for people who buy insurance on their own, capping costs at 8.5% of income. Because of these lower premiums, more than 14.5 million Americans enrolled in health coverage on the ACA marketplaces in 2021 — an all time high for the nation. However, millions of families are facing massive price hikes—and millions more will no longer be able to afford insurance at all — if the expanded tax credits are allowed to expire this year.
Let Congress know that more maternal mental health resources are needed!
Now that the US is focused on the importance of increasing mental health services, it is crucial that new mothers are included in that conversation. Maternal mental health conditions, like postpartum depression and anxiety, are the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth, affecting 800,000 women in the US each year. Yet approximately 75% of women report going untreated. The abysmal rates of diagnosis and effective treatment contribute to making suicide one of the leading causes of death in the first year after a baby is born.This crisis is even more pronounced for new mothers of color who have almost twice the rate of postpartum depression as white moms. Black women, in particular, are half as likely to receive treatment for these conditions as white women. But our lawmakers need to hear why maternal mental health matters to the voters in their communities.
Protect Reproductive Rights!
Since the Supreme Court stripped away our autonomy, our right to be free and equal members of society, and our ability to access the reproductive health care we need, multiple states have already moved forward in their attempts to completely eradicate access to abortion care. This goes against not only the majority of people in America, which polls show support the right to abortion care, but also against our human right to bodily autonomy and right to choose what we want to do with our lives. Right now, it is imperative that we pressure Congress to step in, not tomorrow but RIGHT NOW, and protect our rights.
Call on Congress to stand up for what is right and protect our reproductive rights NOW.
Check out our baby formula newsletter!
We know that many parents and caretakers are still being impacted by the baby formula shortage, so we have created a newsletter to provide regular updates, ways to take action, and helpful information in getting through this crisis.
This week our newsletter provides updates on actions the Biden Administration is taking to bring in more formula from overseas, useful information for WIC recipients, and action items and resources.
Check out the Feed Your Baby: Formula Shortage Newsletter #2!
The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of MomsRising.org.
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