Make Medicare and Medicaid available to everyone

According to the bill, H.R.164 - Increasing Access to Voluntary Screening for HIV/AIDS and STIs Act of 2017 ,it requires group health plans and health insurers to provide coverage for routine HIV/AIDS and STI screenings and testing’s, without cost sharing for people with disabilities, minorities, and low income, physical limitations, and LGBTQ. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must also provide cervical cancer screening for women and improve information collection concerning STIs in transgender communities. The CDC must also have sex education materials available and accessible to the deaf and hearing loss community and to people with intellectual disabilities.

However, this bill will not allow access for necessary educational and medical services for individuals and families who are in the middle to upper class. By not allowing access to these affordable medical and educational services to the middle and upper class, you are not providing equal access to necessary medical and educational services for everyone.

By requiring Medicaid and Medicare to be available to everyone despite their income base, there will be equal access to medical and educational services at a low cost for everyone.

My proposed policy change supports the NASW Code of Ethics values because my policy change advocates for equal access and pay for the educational and medical services provided by the bill. Also, my policy change supports the NASW code of ethics because it calls for changes to be made so that everyone has equal access and that services be made affordable for all. The NASW code 3.07(b) administration states that social workers should advocate for procedures that are fair and that if a client’s needs are unmet a developmental change should be made. Also the NASW code 6.04(a) states that social workers should engage in actions that will ensure that all people, despite their incomes, will have equal access to resources, services, and opportunities that they require to meet their needs. This code also states that social workers should always be aware of the impact that changes in how services are given out and should advocate for any changes that could negatively affect their clients. As well as advocate to improve social conditions in order for everyone to receive their basic human needs.

By signing this petition, you will help raise awareness about the importance of affordable health insurance for everyone despite individual and families income. If Medicare and Medicaid is made available to everyone, so will the necessary medical and educational services needed to meet people’s basic human needs.