The Womxn Project is a 501c4 and works toward reproductive justice, bodily autonomy, and freedom in Rhode Island. The movement we stand behind is based on creating a culture that embraces the human dignity of all people living in Rhode Island and beyond.
Before the Affordable Care Act was in place, people struggling with chronic conditions or dealing with a catastrophic health event lost their health coverage because they reached an annual or lifetime limit. This put many people in the impossible position of going bankrupt to receive healthcare. Since the Affordable Care Act was put in place, personal bankruptcies have declined dramatically.
The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 374,000 Rhode Islanders benefit from the annual/lifetime limits prohibition. This bill would codify an important Affordable Care Act protection in state law and ensure that Rhode Islanders could lose their coverage simply for needing life saving care.
Other states in the northeast have taken steps to codify important parts of the Affordable Care Act into their state laws, and I believe Rhode Island should follow suit. Doing so would protect the dignity of those living within our state by proving that Rhode Island prioritizes the health and financial well being of everyone who lives within our borders.