Tell Your Electeds: Say YES to Medicaid Expansion

HOW DID YOUR WYO REP VOTE ON HB-162?

HELPFUL TIPS FOR WRITING YOUR WYOMING REPRESENTATIVE

• You’ll write your message in the text box on Step 2, where it says “Personalize your message.”
• Your message will go to your local state legislator in the Wyoming House of Representatives.
• Don’t click the “Send message” button until you write your message.
• REMEMBER TO DELETE THE TEXT THAT SAYS “[DELETE THIS TEXT AND INSERT YOUR MESSAGE HERE]”

TALKING POINTS

Personal messages are always best. Here are some talking points you can consider adding:

• House Bill 162 would allow 24,000 uninsured people in Wyoming the ability to access healthcare without worrying about crippling debt. Watch this video about surviving cancer without insurance in Wyoming
• Congress just passed a COVID-19 relief package that includes additional funding for states that update their Medicaid programs. Wyoming would become eligible to receive enough federal funds to extend Medicaid coverage to low-income residents without any additional spending by the state.
• States that have already updated their Medicaid programs have seen economic improvements.
• The people would qualify for coverage are mostly low-income workers—for instance, a single parent making $12 an hour.
• Roughly 6,000 people in Wyoming have lost their job-based insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The hundreds of millions in federal relief funding would dramatically help during our budget crisis.
• Extending Medicaid to low-income residents would drive down uncompensated care costs at our hospitals and rural clinics, create healthcare jobs, decrease premiums in the state, and help create a healthier Wyoming.

YOUR MESSAGE SHOULD HAVE THREE SHORT PARTS:

1. Say who you are.

This message is going to your local state legislator, who is responsible for representing you. Make sure to tell them that you’re a voter in their district.

My name is ____. I live in _____ and I’m a voter in your district.

2. Say what you want.

I’m writing today to ask you thank you for voting in support of House Bill 162 to update Wyoming’s Medicaid program and extend coverage to low-income adults. Please vote “aye” once more on third reading.

OR

I’m writing today to express my disappointment in your “no” vote against House Bill 162. Please change your stance and vote “aye” on third reading.

3. Say why you want it.

[This is where you can add a sentence or two about why updating Medicaid and healthcare access in general is important to you.]

PRO TIPS

Keep it brief: Lawmakers are extremely busy during the legislative session. If you write them a novel, they’re not going to read it.

Change the message subject: Make sure that it includes your request for a YES vote on the bill. This will let them know your email is not spam.