Federal cuts are hitting and we want you to join us for universal healthcare
Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community leaders, health care providers and advocates gathered yesterday morning at Hing Hay Park to demand immediate action as more than 11,000 Washington immigrants and refugees lost Apple Health (Medicaid) coverage.
Those who lost coverage belong to a group of lawfully present non-citizens who are being hit by the changes that went into effect from H.R. 1, federal legislation that President Donald Trump signed into law, which cut more than $1.3 trillion in health care and food assistance nationwide.
Whole Washington stands for universal healthcare
Whole Washington stands in solidarity with those immigrants and refugees and with our coalition partner, Healthcare is a Human Right, which was present at the gathering, to raise awareness of the urgent need to bring universal healthcare to all Washington State residents.
Speakers at the event included State Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos of the 37th Legislative District, Kendee Yamaguchi of the Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS), La‘i King of the Pacific Islander Health Board of Washington, Amy Leong of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), and Sili Savusa, the executive director of the Pacific Islander Community Association of Washington.
They called on state government leaders to identify who is losing coverage, provide emergency resources and a clear path to continued health care, expand multilingual enrollment and health care navigation, and support trusted community organizations serving immigrant and refugee communities.
Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson said that despite an executive order he signed that saved 3,000 people from getting cut from Apple Health, at least 200,000 people are projected to lose their Apple Health coverage by the end of 2027 as a direct result of H.R. 1.
Various local media outlets covered the event, including:
What you can do today to help bring universal healthcare to Washington
Whole Washington is working to bring universal healthcare to every Washington State resident, and we need your help!
Pledge to sign our ballot initiative so Washingtonians can vote for universal healthcare coverage in our state. It only takes a second, and your pledge will help us assess readiness for a ballot initiative, which will require nearly 400,000 signatures to get on the ballot. Click the button below to add your pledge now:
