Action Alert

Submit Comments to Include Immigrants in Affordable Health Care
Despite progress made by the Obama administration to improve the lives of low-income immigrants, the recent decision to exclude young, healthy individuals who received work authorization under a new immigration policy from affordable health care is a significant step backwards. Your voice can make the difference in reversing this decision. Please submit comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services TODAY.

Comments must be received by Monday, October 29, at 9 pm PDT.
Follow these steps to submit comments electronically:

Step 1: Go to www.regulations.gov
Step 2: Search for document ID "CMS_FRDOC_0001"
Step 3: Click on "Comment Now" button to submit comments

You can either download a sample letter, or craft your own comments.
Please include the following points in your letter:
We oppose the exclusion of individuals granted deferred action by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ list of immigration categories considered “lawfully present” for purposes of health coverage eligibility. We urge the administration to delete subsection 8 of 45 CFR § 152.2, effective immediately. This subsection of the Interim Final Rule:

Runs counter to one of the primary goals of the ACA – to expand access to affordable health coverage.
Will lead to higher health insurance premiums for everyone by excluding young, healthy individuals from enrolling in coverage in the Health Benefit Exchange.
Could lead to poorer health outcomes and increase health disparities by denying young immigrants the care they need.
Makes arbitrary distinctions because it differentiates those who received deferred action through the new DACA policy and those granted deferred action for other reasons.

Let us know if you took action by emailing Cary Sanders at csanders@cpehn.org.
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