Youth Activists Make Their Voices Heard in the Health Care Reform Debate

Health Care Update

Young People Are Making Their Voices Heard

For the past few months, the health care debate has been all over the media. Congress has been busy drafting bills addressing the needs of various populations, but the question that has been splattered across the headlines is “Where are the young people?”  

Well, we are right here…where we’ve always been. And we know what we want, so it’s  time for Congress to pay attention.

Advocates for Youth has been working with the Young Invincibles, a coalition of youth-serving organizations across the country, to make sure policy makers know what young people need out of health care reform. Last week, Young Invincibles kicked off the coalition with a lobby day on the Hill and an announcement by members of Congress that are committed to making sure one of our demands - that young people be permitted to stay on their parents’ insurance through age 26 - is included in the heath care bill. Young Invincibles’ policy agenda also includes other safeguards of adolescent health, including coverage of STI screening and birth control.  If you are interested learning more about our policy demands, read them here.

On November 4th, we celebrated the “Anniversary of Change” (1 year since President Barack Obama was elected) with a Y.I. Want Change Day. There were various actions around the country showing that young people are involved in, and care about the health care debate.

Right now there is a “Young Invincible” provision included in the Senate bill that is really a catastrophic care coverage plan. It ignores the fact that young people live with chronic conditions like HIV, asthma, epilepsy and more that need to be covered.  This plan also does not mention what preventative services will be covered!  Read a full critique of the plan

Want to know an easy way to get involved? Put this message in your facebook status:

"One year ago we made history. Let's make history again by delivering quality, affordable health care to all Americans. If you agree, click on the link, sign the petition, and repost this message.  http://bit.ly/1hs0Dw"

Want to get more involved? Email me at sarah@advocatesforyouth.org.

Peace,
Sarah