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Tell lawmakers: Alabama women need you to close the coverage gap!

Alabama mothers face many barriers to good health. They experience high maternal and infant mortality rates, high rates of uninsurance among women of childbearing age, and worsening access to maternity care providers, a report from the Georgetown Center for Children and Families found.

These problems are compounded by Alabama’s extremely low Medicaid eligibility limit for parents. A mother with two children would be over the income limit even if she earns less than $400 a month. This limit restricts access to coverage to very few parents. And it serves as a work disincentive for parents who earn “too much” money to qualify for Medicaid and do not get health insurance through their employer.

Alabama can and should do better. Tell your legislators that Alabama women need Medicaid expansion.

State lawmakers took an important step for women’s health in 2022 by extending the Medicaid postpartum coverage period from just 60 days to one year after the end of pregnancy. Our state also has a proud history of covering children through the ALL Kids program and leads the South in reducing the rate of uninsured children.

But Alabama policymakers need to do more to save the lives of women and children. By failing to close the coverage gap, we are undermining our own progress. Legislators should affirm their commitment to maternal and child health by expanding Medicaid for adults with low incomes.

Medicaid expansion has significant benefits for maternal and infant health, research shows. Expansion allows moms to have access to health coverage, before, during and after pregnancy. This helps empower them to have healthy births and support their children’s development.

Contact your legislators today and tell them to close the coverage gap to save women’s lives. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that every woman in Alabama receives the quality health care they deserve. Let’s stand united in advocating for Medicaid expansion for better maternal health.

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Alabama Representatives and Senators

Subject: Moms can’t wait! Close the health coverage gap and save lives

Message:

I want to thank you for the work you and your colleagues at the State House have done by extending postpartum Medicaid coverage. That was a crucial step to saving the lives of new mothers in Alabama. Now I urge you to take the next logical step and close our state’s remaining health coverage gap to save even more women's lives. Extending postpartum coverage alone is insufficient to save lives and adequately address the pressing needs of women in our state. Our state has the fifth-highest uninsured rate in the country among women ages 18-44. And our harsh eligibility limits for Medicaid drive this problem: A mother with two children who earns just $4,500 a year makes “too much” to qualify for Medicaid coverage. This coverage gap leaves women vulnerable to enormous medical bills and significantly limits their ability to receive timely and adequate care. Closing the health coverage gap through Medicaid expansion is a proven solution to address these challenges and ensure all women can access the comprehensive health care services they need. Expansion would save lives and provide other significant benefits for mothers and babies across our state. Those benefits include greater access to prenatal and postpartum care and stronger access to obstetrical services in rural communities. As your constituent, I am writing to ask you to work with your fellow legislators to find a way to close Alabama’s coverage gap as soon as possible. By doing so, you will be saving women’s lives, improving maternal health and creating a healthier future for our communities.

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Tell lawmakers: Alabama women need you to close the coverage gap!

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