The Affordable Care Act and Immigrants

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Despite the fact that it was a weeknight during dinner time and the sun was out for the first time in ages, community members attended a Health Care Forum put on by OneAmerica, Planned Parenthood Votes, Washington CAN, and Northwest Health Law Advocates (NoHLA). This public eduation forum, the first in a series planned across the state, was held at Highline Community College on July 10.

Over 50 attendees gathered to hear from Nikki Mackey about how she personally benefited from the Affordable Care Act after she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, and is still able to receive treatment due to the law. Afterwards, myself and Rahwa Habte, another OneAmerica organizer, gave an overview of health reform and its many benefits, including increasing access and affordability of care, with a particular emphasis on how it impacts communities of color and immigrants.

Washington State Senator Karen Keiser (D, 33LD, pictured above), chair of the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee, attended, along with representatives from Rep. Jim McDermott’s and Rep. Adam Smith’s offices. Community members had a chance to interact and speak with these elected officials and discuss their questions and concerns regarding the law.

Overall, the meeting was a success. The attendees - from all walks of life and different ethnic groups - could all agree on one thing: the community needs to host more of these types of events to discuss and inform people about this important change to the law that impacts so many of our lives. Some of the young women from the Oromo community discussed with the organizers how they plan to take back the information they learned to benefit their local community.

Two more health reform forums have since been held in Yakima and Everett.