1. DEMOCRACIA
FEBRUARY 2011
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HEALTHCARE REFORM AND YOU
Latinos make up a significant percentage of the uninsured in America, IN THIS ISSUE:
so its no surprise that the Latino community had cause to celebrate
when President Barack Obama signed the Health Care Reform Act into Healthcare Reform:
law last year. Unfortunately, today, there are efforts mounting in the what’s at stake
newly elected Congress to repeal the Health Care Reform Act, and
scale back any progress we’ve made towards ensuring our most
vulnerable populations can receive the care and treatment they need. Clean Air and our
future
Last month, the House passed a repeal of the bill , however, similar
efforts in the Senate this week, were unsuccessful. While this is cer- Colorado’s anti-
tainly a victory, the opponents of health care have not been dis- immigrant bill
suaded, they are in fact committed to continuing fighting for a repeal. introduced
There’s a lot of confusion over just what the healthcare law does and
so we thought we would highlight some of the more important provi-
Democracia files suit
sions that have already taken effect, and others that are due to take
against Governor Rick
effect in 2014. Find out what you stand to lose if we allow politics to
be played with an issue as important as the health and well-being of Scott (R-FL) in fight for Fair
our nation’s citizens. (page 2) Districts
2. N
5 Benefits the Hispanic
Community stands to lose if
Congress repeals
Health Care Reform
1. Young Adult Coverage until Age 26
Prior to passage of the reform act, over 2 million young adults were left uninsured, resulting often
times in expensive emergency room visits. Today, millions of young people across the country can
now remain on their parent’s coverage until they turn 26 as a result of Health Care Reform.
2. Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)
Prior to the passage of the reform act, millions of Americans, including children, were denied
coverage because of a pre-existing condition. Common chronic conditions like Diabetes , asthma,
or high blood pressure were enough for an insurance company to refuse covering patients. Today,
we can feel secure knowing that our health issues won’t prevent us from seeking the care and
treatment we need moving forward.
3. Preventive Care and Services
The best way to manage your health is through preventative care. Early diagnosis is critical
in successfully combating many illnesses. Prior to the passage of the Health Care Reform Act, mil-
lions of Americans were unable to get diagnosed early, while others had to suffer or pass on the
cost of expensive visits to the emergency room. Starting September 2010, insurance companies will
have to offer you "first-dollar" coverage of preventative care, which means they have to pay for it
even if you haven't paid your full deductible. Under the new plan, we now have access to free
testing for conditions such as High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, and Cholesterol tests as well as Cancer
screenings, including Mammograms and Colonoscopies.
4. Preserving Doctor Choice and Ensuring Emergency Care
Under Health Care Reform, we continue to have the right to choose which doctors we see
and will not have to worry about being turned away from the emergency room under any
circumstances.
5. Eliminating Lifetime and Annual Limits on Your Benefits
There is no longer a limit on the cost of essential care. Health Care will no longer get cut off
because of spending caps. In addition, lifetime limits on benefits and restrictive annual limits on
benefits are banned.
PROVISIONS THAT GO INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1ST, 2014: Medicaid will cover every American
earning $14,400 per year or less; this change alone will provide coverage for up to 9 million
currently uninsured young adults. Tax credits will be given for purchasing health insurance
to those who earn less than $43,000 per year for an individual and lack employer-sponsored
insurance, and all annual limits will be banned by 2014.
3. Clean Air &
Latinos
Democracia team members the National Wildlife Federation’s
Nearly two-thirds of Latinos in the United Climate Team conference
States live in areas that have yet to meet the
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) air
important and hard work of bridging move-
quality standards, and because of this, face
ments, networks, and cultures to advance a
heightened health risks. According to the
shared agenda for change. The Summit in-
National Resources Defense Council (NRDC),
volved a combination of panel and small
Latinos are often concentrated in metropoli-
group discussions, skills training, and
tan areas that have higher levels of air pollut-
shared brainstorming which centered on mo-
ants streaming out of machinery, power
bilizing and building strong partnerships
plants, factories and vehicles. All of these
around importance issues such as the Clean
can certainly lead to increased risk of asthma,
Air Act.
chronic bronchitis, and lunch cancer, among
others. That’s why Democracia has taken a
These joint efforts are vitally important par-
lead in helping to educate the Latino commu-
ticularly today, where we not only face
nity on why we need to help pass a Clean Air
resistance to passing a new Clean Air Act, but
Act that sets strict air standards and penalties
efforts to take the clean air movement back
for not meeting those standards
twenty years. Case in point—current draft
On January 31st and February 1st, Democracia legislation being passed around in the Con-
gress would strip the Environmental Protec-
joined the National Wildlife Federation’s Fair
tion Agency of its power to regulate green-
Climate Team which hosted 70 community
house gases and carbon emissions under the
leaders from 21 states at its first National Fair
Climate Summit. It was a national gathering Clean Air Act. We can’t let legislation like this
succeed.
of leaders from a diversity of cultures (Native
American, Latino, Black, Asian), backgrounds
What can you do? Go to our site:
and disciplines—faith, business, environ-
mental justice, education, civic engage- www.mydemocracia.org
ment—who came together to begin the
Want to read more? We recommend these online sources:
www.goverdeahora.org www.nrdc.org www.1sky.org www.nwf.org www.epa.gov
4. DEMOCRACIA SUES FLORIDA
GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT OVER
FAIR DISTRICTS
On February 3rd, 2011, Democracia Inc. , along with Fair Districts Now, the Florida NAACP,
and the Florida League of Women Voters, filed suit against Governor Rick Scott (R-FL). This
past election, Democracia was instrumental in helping to pass Amendments 5 and 6 on the
Florida ballot. The Amendments create rules that prevent the current practice of gerryman-
dering (drawing congressional districts to favor one political party over the other) that has run
rampant in the State for the past several decades. 63% of Florida voters voted in favor of the
amendments which are now officially part of the Florida Constitution. As all ballot initiatives
that are successful, they were forwarded to the U.S. Department of Justice for legal pre-
clearance. Unfortunately, Governor Scott and Secretary of State Kurt Browning have inter-
rupted that process by withdrawing the law from the process, even though the law requires
them to obtain pre-clearance “as soon as possible.” What are they trying to accomplish? A
delay of the process so that the new rules cannot be implemented in time for the next elec-
tion cycle. “Trying to subvert the will of the voters is certainly the wrong way for the Governor
to start off his term. Efforts like these just go to prove that this process has been manipulated
for way too long and that those who’ve benefited from drawing unfair districts are not going
to give up power so easily. We are confident, however, that at the end of the day, the voice of
the people will resonate loudest,” said Jorge Mursuli, President of Democracia Inc.
COLORADO’S COPYCAT
The state of Colorado is the most recent example of how Arizona’s
anti-immigrant legislation S.B. 1070, has picked up supporters in the
way of copycat bills. Colorado’s state legislature recently introduced
Senate Bill 54 (SB 54), which gives local law enforcement the authority to
detain or arrest anyone they have reason to believe is in the country
illegally; and despite openly denouncing laws like SB 1070 in the past, Governor John
Hickenlooper has not publicly stated whether or not he would veto such legalization. Will the
Hispanic community, which comprise over 20% of the population in the State, remain quiet on
the issue? Not if Democracia can help it. Check back in next month’s newsletter for informa-
tion regarding the launch of our joint campaign to fight SB 54 and if you want to add your voice
to the effort, contact Colorado State Director, Maria de Cambra: 719-242-7100.
Democracia Inc. Headquarters: 2915 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, Florida 33137 (305) 573-7329
www.mydemocracia.org