What: Statewide media conference call

When: Thursday, December 19 at 3 p.m.

Dial: 605-313-4802; passcode 926618#

Charlottesville, Va. — Yesterday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate unconstitutional and sent the Texas v. United States case back to a lower court. In response, Virginia Organizing will hold a statewide media conference call today at 3 p.m. To join the call, dial 605-313-4802 and enter passcode 926618#.

The call will feature speakers from Rocky Gap, Salem, and Chesapeake whose access to health care is threatened by this decision.

“A divided court issued a delay, but health care opponents in Washington have been clear: They want to repeal the ACA and the essential protections it provides for millions of American families, seniors, veterans, women, and children,” said Denise Smith, a member of Virginia Organizing’s State Governing Board. “The fight is not over. Over 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions remain at risk of losing protections and millions of Americans could see their premiums rise. Today, they are in limbo, facing anxiety and insecurity about their health care coverage.”

In Virginia, 3,580,300 people with pre-existing conditions stand to lose protections won in the Affordable Care Act. About 360,000 people would lose coverage recently gained through Medicaid expansion.

If you are unable to make the conference but would like to interview a spokesperson, please contact Nik Belanger at 434-709-4953 or nik.belanger@virginia-organizing.org.