Category Archives: Healthcare

Wanna fight Trumpcare? Here’s who to call

It’s time to be blunt. You’ve seen the images of protestors–many of them wheelchairs or holding medical equipment–being escorted away by police from the Capitol offices of Senator Mitch McConnell.

We’re asking–no, begging–you to support them and nearly 24 million Americans who face losing access to potentially life-saving care. We’re asking you to make a few quick calls every day this week to stop the Republican Senate #Wealthcare bill. Then tell five friends to do the same. Keep repeating, and together we can build up the volume of outrage to kill this bill.

If you have friends and relatives in red states, call them, too, and ask them to phone their senators’ offices every day. Volume and persistence count.

We suggest that you call the 11 senators listed in the Trumpcare Toolkit,clicking on the links to put the calls through. If time is limited, please focus on the following:

Don’t be afraid to leave a message. Say that you’re calling as a neighbor and an American. Tell them your family and America’s poor, disabled, children, and almost all elderly people living in nursing homes–America’s moms and dads and grandparents–can’t accept devastating cuts to Medicaid to pay for a tax cut for this country’s richest.

Tell them history will remember how they voted on this bill. Demand that they vote NO.

#Resist.

32ac0eb0-2b1e-4f25-9297-e5afe5bd516f

In the week since Election Day, we’ve seen more than 100 years of social and economic justice advocacy and legislation threatened and the cherished diversity of American society thrown into question. Not only the Affordable Care Act, but also Medicare is under siege. A Muslim registry has been proposed. Deportation forces that are opposed by the governments and police of our largest, most vibrant cities are planned. And, most tellingly, an array of bigots, xenophobes, racists, outsourcers, climate-change deniers, and just brutish and incompetent people is lining up to lead our nation at home and abroad.

Many of you have joined in protest. You’ve said #NotMyPresident, loud and clear. We urge you to continue, but also to resist the gradual “normalization” of this administration-in-waiting. There is nothing “normal” or “American” about what is being proposed.

What to do, right now? Here are three suggestions:

  • Read–and learn. Congressman Jerry Nadler has just come out with a must-read primer demonstrating how to use existing government as a tool of resistance.
  • Organize. Join one or more of the meetings taking place across New York to plot our collective way forward. There’s one called Rise Up Together: The American Majority Against Trump this Sunday, November 20th, from 6 to 8 pm at The Center at 208 West 13th Street, Manhattan.
  • Help. Support the neediest and most vulnerable–those who are immediately threatened. We’ll be making more suggestions, but you can start by supporting and empowering the Muslim community; defending reproductive choice and the right to free or affordable contraception; informing and protecting our immigrant neighbors and families; and standing up for the right to health care by using the hashtag #IfILoseCoverage.

If there was ever time for solidarity, it’s NOW. We’re partners in the campaign to #CLOSErikers. Join us for a vigil outside Gracie Mansion on Sunday afternoon, December 4th

Join us in standing with Planned Parenthood for women’s health.

As anti-choice forces step up their attacks on a woman’s health and fundamental reproductive freedom, Greater NYC for Change is proud to join Planned Parenthood for a #PinkOut on Tuesday, September 29th.

It’s simple: Wear something pink, snap a selfie, and share it with #PinkOut to be seen, be heard, and be a part of this movement and this moment. You can also help turn the Internet pink by pinking out your Facebook or Twitter profile image. There will be a number of events taking place all over the country, including a rally here in New York City.

#PinkOut Day is our chance to fight back against the relentless attacks on women’s health. It’s a chance to make your voice heard, and to stand up for the millions of women who receive necessary healthcare services from Planned Parenthood every year. For many women, Planned Parenthood provides the only healthcare they receive.

On Tuesday, September 29th, women and men nationwide will be standing together to say: We’re not backing down, not today, not ever.

b9db8d9b-867b-4354-8545-3e4ac4388a4f

Affordable Coverage Options Still Available!

As of April 17, approximately 8 million Americans have enrolled in an affordable healthcare plan through the first ACA Open Enrollment period. As many as 5.6 million more, however, will remain uninsured because 24 states have failed to participate in the Medicaid Expansion available under the law.

Fortunately, New York is one of the states with a robust and expanded Medicaid program. This means that while the Federal deadline to enroll for 2014 coverage through the health marketplace has passed, thousands of economically challenged New Yorkers may still have options to access healthcare they need.

Free Coverage for Low-Income New Yorkers

Individuals and families with qualifying incomes (up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level) can sign up to get free coverage under Medicaid, and children can be enrolled under CHIP at ANY TIME during the year.

Special Enrollment Periods

Also, any individuals who don’t meet the income requirements for Medicaid but experience a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) are eligible to apply for comprehensive private plans with rates that are 53% lower than pre-ACA rates in New York State. Examples of QLEs include, but are not limited to:

  • Job loss or change in income
  • Recent loss of health coverage (i.e. your employer dropped your insurance)
  • Marriage, birth, death, adoption, divorce, or similar change in family status

To receive coverage because of a QLE, the application must be started within 60 days of the event.For more information on applying for Medicaid or a Special Enrollment period, please check out this helpful link How Can I Get Coverage Outside of Open Enrollment or contact New York State of Health.

Volunteer to Spread the Word!

GNYCfC has helped GetCoveredNY enroll over 4,000 New Yorkers in free or affordable coverage.  We continue to play an active role in the outreach to help insure the uninsured so as to improve health outcomes across many communities.If you would like to volunteer with us to raise awareness about the options for affordable care, please contact Linda Ricci at getcoveredny@gmail.com.

Hope to see you this summer!

Tasha Williams for GNYCfC

Help Uninsured New Yorkers Find Affordable Health Insurance

"Get Covered New York" volunteers at Harlem Week, posing with State Sen. Bill Perkins (center with hat) who stopped by our table to see what we were doing.

“Get Covered New York” volunteers at Harlem Week, posing with State Senator Bill Perkins (center with hat) who stopped by our table to see what we were doing.

It’s time to kick off those summer sandals and get into some walking shoes. Enrollment for the New York Health Benefit Exchange begins October 1st and those who will benefit most – 1.1 million uninsured New Yorkers – remain unaware.  

If you would like to help spread the word, please sign up below. Or, if you have questions, email Linda (getcoveredny@gmail.com). The Get Covered New York team will help provide training in the basics of the Affordable Care Act for volunteers to perform this important service.  There’s no time to waste.

7th Annual East Harlem Youth Fair

Health Fair with food, games, backpack giveaways, and entertainment.
Tuesday, August 20th, 1pm to 4pm / E. 101st Street between Lexington and Park Ave
RSVP

Sponsored by YMCA of Greater NY, NYC Council Rep Mark-Viverito, MBP Scott Stringer, D.A. Cy Vance, Community Board 11, and other community based organizations.

Peace in the Streets with Antioch Baptist Church

Friday, August 23rd, 2:30 – 8:30 pm
Morningside Park, 123rd & Morningside Avenue
Subways: 125th Street on 2/3, B/D and A/C (and multiple crosstown buses)
RSVP or email Tasha (tasha.t.williams@gmail.com) with any questions

Harlem Health Fair

Saturday, August 24th, 12 noon – 4 pm, Adam Clayton Powell Plaza. Transit: accessible by the M60 and M101 Buses, as well as the 1, 2, and 3 trains. RSVP

Tabling at Tomkins Square Park

Saturday, August 31st, 1 – 6 pm
7th St and Avenue A
Subway: L train to First Avenue and 14th Steet
RSVP: email Diane (dianevert@rcn.com)

Greater NYC for Change Annual Membership Meeting

Greater NYC for Change Annual Membership meeting

Greater NYC for Change Annual Membership meeting

Our board has been ratified! Here is to a great year.
Our board has been ratified! Here is to a great year.

Over the last few years, Greater NYC for Change had led in the fight for health care reform, gun violence prevention, and reducing the glaring income inequality in our nation. This year, we’ve taken the steps to become a nonprofit corporation, and we were honored to launch as a nonprofit on Wednesday, May 22nd. Other community leaders and progressive visionaries joined in to plan great things!  

 

After wine and cheese, the members voted in the slate of executive board members who will run the day to day operations of the group. Later this year, we’ll kick off a bigger party to celebrate – please stay tuned! This is a milestone for us. We hope to amplify your voice and serve worthy causes in partnership with your leadership and allies, in the cause of social justice.

Below are some of our top priorities for the year to come: 

·    Partnership with Health Care for All New York to educate and enroll eligible New Yorkers in the new health care exchange opening in January 2014 

·      Combatting voter suppression laws in Pennsylvania 

·      Advocating for reversal of the harsh federal budget cuts contained in the sequester and for maintenance of protections under Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid 

·      Partnership with organizations dedicated to immigration reform to lobby for passage of the DREAM Act and other meaningful immigration reform legislation 

·      Working to reduce gun violence in New York City communities and to pass gun safety legislation on the national level 

·      Organizing parents, teachers, and other members of the community to lobby state policymakers to expand the pre-k budget, raise educational levels, and combat poverty 

·      LGBT initiatives not limited to overturning DOMA and ensuring recognition of Marriage Equality in all states 

·      Organizing candidate forums to encourage civic participation in local elections 

·      Advocacy against income inequality, in particular for a true living wage in New York City