Each week the AIT community receives #TakeActionTuesday with tips for creating impactful change in their community and beyond. From new online tools, to pending policy updates, subscribe today to make sure you don’t miss these action-oriented recommendations.
Today marks the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when we educate ourselves on the importance of women’s access to lifesaving healthcare measures like early screenings for breast cancer. Using this month as an opportunity to turn awareness into action, it is important to focus on women’s access to quality, comprehensive healthcare and work to eliminate the barriers that thousands of American women still face when it comes to their health.
Across the United States, over 1 in 10 women remain uninsured—with many more underinsured. This number becomes particularly consequential when considering that women, on average, spend almost double on healthcare costs over their lifetimes compared to men. The barriers to quality care are compounded for women of color, who face maternal mortality rates up to 3.3 times higher than those faced by white women.
This Take Action Tuesday, take action to improve women’s access to quality healthcare.
- Select Your Focus. Healthcare policy is a broad area of policymaking that covers a wide range of issues that impact our lives each and every day. Get familiar with the issues currently being discussed in your state or community, and pick one area where you can use your experience and interests to advocate for the changes that you want to see.
- Join Forces With Organizations. There are plenty of opportunities this month and beyond to take action on the unique healthcare barriers affecting women. Find out which national or local women’s healthcare advocacy organizations are taking actions, and join in!
- Contact Your Representatives. Healthcare policy has a direct impact on the availability of affordable healthcare across the country from our largest cities to rural communities. Reach out to your representatives, share your personal views and experiences accessing healthcare in your community, and ask what actions your elected officials are taking.
How are you taking action on women’s access to healthcare? Let us know at info@aitogether.org.