Today we’re facing a war on women’s health like we’ve never seen before. Instead of “health care” being a “health issue,” it’s become a “political issue,” with destructive, and even deadly consequences.
And it’s not just the repeal of Obamacare that’s threatening women’s health. There’s the all-out attack on Planned Parenthood that carries serious consequences for over 2.8 million Americans who depend on them for low-cost or no-cost health care each year.
The irony is that Planned Parenthood saves healthcare dollars both for individual patients and for the government. Their family planning services help keep babies healthy by reducing closely spaced births, prematurity and low birth weights. They help parents avoid sexually transmitted diseases, cervical cancer and more – all of which prevents suffering and abortions while saving us all money on health care.
Women’s health, deadly politics
More attacks on women’s health care and reproductive rights are in the works. Shamefully, Trump’s threats to women’s health go beyond our borders, as he just issued the strictest global gag rule in US history. This hurts the poorest and most vulnerable women in the world – women in developing countries.
President Misogyny
Even if you think you’re above gender politics, you should take all this personally – because it is! Check out the Telegraph’s Donald Trump Sexism Tracker for details.
And you can bet Terri Carlson has something to say about this! Check out her latest Terri Talks video about Trump’s War on Women!
The overall impact (or “death toll”) of Trump’s disastrous policies toward women is yet to be seen as he and his team are still working out the details. For now, we’re just going to take a closer look at the impact of the repeal of Obamacare.
Repeal will cost you plenty
If you’re a woman, the repeal of Obamacare will cost you a lot, and not just money. It will cost you your savings, your peace of mind and even your own health!
Financial costs are just the beginning
Here’s what you’re going to have to start paying:
Co-pays on contraceptives. In 2012, American women saved $1.4 billion a year in out of pocket costs for contraceptives alone! For birth control pill users, this works out per person to about $255 a year.
Co-pays on mammograms, cancer screenings & check-ups;
Higher premiums just because you’re a woman. Yes, before Obamacare made it illegal, women were routinely charged from 50% to 80% more than men for health insurance!
But the price you’ll pay won’t stop there
Health insurance companies can go back to denying you coverage because you’re pregnant. And they will once again be able to to exclude maternity coverage!
You’ll no longer be able to keep your kids on your health insurance plan up until they’re 26 (if you could afford it in the first place).
You’ll face the return of annual and lifetime maximums on health benefits – maximums that will hurt if you suffer from a chronic condition or if you’re one of the nearly 40% of Americans who develops cancer at some point.
And there’s more
To make things worse, an Obamacare repeal is also going to harm your family members, many of whom depend on you!
American seniors, Americans with pre-existing conditions, Americans who suffer from mental illness, low-income Americans and more are going to face higher premiums and out of pocket costs and reduced access to care.
Who’s going to fill in the gaps?
All too often, it will be YOU! Repeal will add to the already complex burdens faced by over 43 million Americans, 65% of whom are women, who are struggling to serve as caregivers for their chronically ill, aged and/or disabled family members.
This includes parents caring for a special needs child and adult children caring for a parent or other relative over 50 years old,
According to CaregiverAction.org:
The typical family caregiver is a 49-year-old woman caring for her widowed 69-year-old mother who does not live with her. She is married and employed. Approximately 66% of family caregivers are women. More than 37% have children or grandchildren under 18 years old living with them.
Caregivers pay a price for caring
According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, caregivers suffer higher levels of depression, stress and anxiety, while experiencing lower levels of subjective wellbeing, and physical health.
Bottom line, if you’re a woman the repeal of Obamacare is going to have very serious consequences for your health, your wealth and your peace of mind. It’s going to have very serious consequences for your aging parents, your children and your grandchildren.
Which begs the question, why are we even talking about cutting back on care when what we need is more care. Why aren’t we talking about what Americans actually want?
Instead of a private health insurance system with its perverse incentives, 58% of Americans support a federally funded healthcare system, according to Gallup.
Improved, expanded Medicare for All is what American women need.
If you want California to lead the nation with our own Medicare for All system, take action! Join us on Twitter and Facebook, and
Sign our Open Letter to Governor Brown and Our Legislative Leaders!
Dear Governor Brown, Senate President Pro Tem DeLeón and Assembly Speaker Rendon:
California families depend on Medicare, Medi-Cal and Obamacare for our very lives.
Protect these programs, but more.
Give us healthcare that covers everybody for everything for life!
Trump doesn’t care about humanity period
Care for all in need.