What: Virginia Organizing Rally and Report Release
When: Wednesday, April 1 at 4:30 p.m.
Where: 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Charlottesville, Va.—The Charlottesville Chapter of Virginia Organizing will rally at 401 McIntire Road in Charlottesville on Wednesday, April 1 at 4:30 p.m. in support of Medicaid expansion and to celebrate five years of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Virginia Organizing will also release a national report from the Alliance for a Just Society showing that Virginians need Medicaid expansion to help working families thrive.
“With ovarian cancer and without the ACA, I would not have health insurance,” said Charlottesville Chapter leader Susan Perry. “Eventually, I would have most likely refused treatment rather than jeopardize my family’s financial solvency. Virginia Organizing helped me understand the Health Insurance Marketplace, and I received excellent insurance with a government subsidy to make it affordable.”
Perry also supports expanding Medicaid for Virginians who are not currently covered and who do not meet the minimum income qualifications to receive a subsidy on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
The Alliance for a Just Society report, Rigged to Fail, shows that families in Virginia are suffering because of policies that fail to support economic growth. The study rated Virginia on 25 different indicators in the categories of Job and Wages; Debt and Taxes; and Supporting Workers. Virginia received an “F” grade on these indicators.
“Not having access to affordable healthcare is devastating,” said Perry. “We at Virginia Organizing want the 400,000 Virginians, who’s Medicaid is already paid for with Virginians’ federal tax dollars, receive the healthcare they need and deserve.”
Virginia Organizing Chairperson Sandra A. Cook said, “Virginia’s policies have been failing Virginia’s families for years. It’s time we support workers and their families. The easiest and most cost effective way to do this is to expand Medicaid—that would be a good start.”
Virginia’s failure to expand Medicaid has cost the state $5 million a day since January 1, 2014—money that could have covered uninsured Virginians, created jobs, and stimulated the state economy.
To interview a spokesperson for Virginia Organizing, please contact Amanda Pohl at 804-337-1912 or amanda@virginia-organizing.org.
