As young global citizens soon to be part of the democratic decision-making process, students learned about the ethical, legal, and social implications of current issues and events in healthcare. Students wrote testimonies to the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions to help policy makers understand the urgency behind public issues. Below are some excerpts of our work for Capitol Hill.
In light of the recent cuts to the Affordable Care Act, I aim to inform Congress of the role underprivileged people play in the medical community, the unjust discrimination they have faced, and how the government can support them throughout this journey.
Despite being subject to blatant discrimination, scarce representation and decades of public ridicule, underprivileged people have made unwavering strides for the medical community. However, today they still face detrimental stigma at the hands of grave ignorance as most are still not eligible to receive affordable healthcare. We have therefore devised three techniques to improve the accessibility of healthcare for all: (1) Reinstate the federal mandate. (2) Reinstate the Medicaid coverage to 138% of the Federal Poverty Line. (3) Require insurance companies to insure people with pre-existing conditions. Samantha Migliore, 2019 Read Sam's full testimony here. |
We urge Congress to stay on course and continue to support and maintain the Affordable Care Act. There are also many infractions and concerns to the Act that should be under review, and should continue to be sought out to be reviewed. Problems like the shortages are very unpopular, and a complex situation to sort out. Nevertheless they should attend to this, as they are essential to sustaining what has continued to be a prosperous, and helpful healthcare act for the population.
Thank you for this opportunity to speak with you about the widely unknown perception as to how underprivileged people have been mistreated and underrepresented over the years which has allowed for the technological and scientific advancement to grow at an exponential rate. I also look forward to continuing to share more about how the importance of continuing the affordable care act as well. Kaleb Pereira, 2019 Read Kaleb's full testimony here. |
Due to the extensive number of experiments conducted on minorities and underprivileged people, the field of medicine and health care as a whole has experienced great change and improvement. Whether it be through the HeLa cells serving as the largest way to test new vaccines or genetically diagnose patients, give birth control pills without knowledge of the side effects or testing dangerous chemicals in prisoners, minorities and the disadvantaged have contributed to society. Because of America's past of ignoring the needs of underprivileged people, it is almost certain they will be overlooked in the present. The Affordable Care Act will help provide those that do not have access to proper health care to have an opportunity at being medically insured.
I strongly encourage the US Congress to restore the federal mandate, allow the Medicaid expansion to be reinstated, and make it a requirement for all insurance companies to cover those who have had pre-existing medical conditions. Kate Esteban, 2019 Read Kate's full testimony here. |