IBPF URGENT ADVOCACY ALERT
 International Bipolar Foundation stands with public health experts and mental health advocates across the nation to urge Congress to preserve coverage and health benefits for Americans as the foremost priority in revising or repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare). We urge our communities to join efforts to ensure that no one loses critical insurance or healthcare services.

The Senate is planning to pass a budget that will begin the process of repealing the ACA as soon as this Thursday, JANUARY 11. This will be the first step in taking health care away from people before having any plan to replace it.
“‘Replace, then repeal,’ is an essential strategy to assure that the 21 million Americans newly insured through the ACA continue to have health insurance to protect them in the face of medical emergencies and necessary routine care,” notes Ron Manderscheid, PhD, Executive Director of National Association of County Behavioral Health and Disability Directors and the National Association for Rural Mental Health. “It would be quite inhumane to suddenly drop these Americans from the insurance rolls. Such precipitous action also would have dire financial consequences for insurance companies providing ACA health insurance.”

“Millions of Americans affected by mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder need support and dependable healthcare,” says Eduardo Vega, IBPF senior policy advisor, “Repealing ACA without a replacement strategy puts 11 million Americans at risk of losing Medicaid coverage alone. Those who struggle with mental illness symptoms could have significant setbacks in their recovery if they were to lose or be denied coverage, and many more could be at risk of disability, financial distress or unemployment.”
TAKE ACTION NOW 
Call the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Senators’ offices. Tell them we cannot take legislative or budget action to repeal ACA before replacing it.

Or 
Go to https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/ . Tell them we cannot take legislative or budget action to repeal ACA before replacing it.
The mission of International Bipolar Foundation is to improve understanding and treatment of bipolar disorder through research; to promote care and support resources for individuals and caregivers; and to erase stigma through education. 
International Bipolar Foundation

858-598-5967 | hzupin@ibpf.org

International Bipolar Foundation

Sent by mleigh@ibpf.org