The NAACP Reiterates and Reaffirms Support for the Affordable Care Act- Education and Enrollment Initiatives

WHEREAS, the NAACP reaffirms our support for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Resolution adopted in July 2010, the NAACP strongly supports the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that seeks to improve our Nation's health care system, providing affordable and quality care to all Americans and ensure the expansion of Medicaid in all states; and

WHEREAS, countless attempts of counter propaganda and misinformation have flooded the African American community, which resulted in confusion about the effectiveness of the ACA; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP remains steadfast in conducting outreach and education to provide culturally competent and correct information to the African American community; and

WHEREAS, since October 1, 2013, Americans of all races, ethnicities, and both genders have signed up for health insurance using the Health Insurance Marketplace giving them and their household access to affordable and high quality health care beginning January 1, 2014; and

WHEREAS, as of April 2014, more than 8 million Americans have enrolled in the Health Insurance Marketplace; and

WHEREAS, more than 6.8 million eligible uninsured African Americans will have access to health care coverage, while at least 95% of all uninsured African­ Americans are eligible for Marketplace tax credits, Medicaid, or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); and

WHEREAS, as of March 28, 2014, 21 states are not expanding Medicaid coverage at this time, which disproportionally affects African Americans who will face coverage gaps and will have limited access to affordable and quality care.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the NAACP strongly advocated for and supports the full implementation and education of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NAACP actively engage with ACA navigators and certified application counselors at the state and local level from October 2014 to February 2015 to educate and enroll members of their respective communities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NAACP engage with their respective Department of Health & Human Services Regional Office and public health agencies to host education sessions, panel discussions, town hall meetings and other community events to educate community members on the benefits and importance of the ACA; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP units continue to work in the states that did not expand Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid, and/or set up a market place to take immediate action (with visits to state legislators and governor offices, press conferences, public forums and other promotional initiatives with assistance from our Washington Bureau and National Office) to advocate for the expansion of Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid, and to set up a marketplace.