Today is the start of open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act coverage for medical care in the U.S., and in the face of so many things happening in our country to roll back protections and rights for our LGBTQ communities, this is a prime opportunity to take positive action. The short video below summarizes why the ACA is so important to our communities. The efforts to weaken and destroy this important step toward assuring access to basic healthcare for all particularly hurt LGBTQ people and families.
BUT the ACA is still the law of the land, and one way to fight back is to assure that everyone in our communities who needs this coverage actually signs up and gets it. Nurses and other providers, and anyone concerned about healthcare for LGBTQ communities – we can all help to make sure that our friends, families, colleagues – that everyone in our circle of acquaintance – knows how to enroll now! Open enrollment starts on November 1, and ends on December 15th (half the time in previous years) – so it is vital to take action now! Here are some links with more informtion about the current status of enrollment, and what you can do now:
American Journal of Nursing Blog
Out To Enroll LGBT resources for 2018 enrollment
Lavender Health - LGBTQ Resource Center 