Liz Hanbidge

Access & affordability. No person should have to forgo medical treatment – or vital insurance coverage – so that they can afford to live. We must remain committed to fighting to protect and expand access to affordable, quality, and comprehensive healthcare in Pennsylvania. We must work to lower prescription drug costs, protect our seniors’ access to Medicare, defend the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and preserve the protection that stops insurance companies from denying coverage for preexisting conditions.

Reproductive freedom. Abortion is essential (sometimes life-saving) healthcare. Banning abortion outright in this commonwealth – as gubernatorial candidate Senator Doug Mastriano has proposed – will endanger women. We, as a country, already have the highest rate of maternal death of any developed country. With attacks on abortion access at both the state and federal level, we must elect leaders who will defend women’s rights to safe reproductive healthcare.

Limiting access to safe and legal abortion does not decrease the number of abortions, but it will decrease access to safe abortion care. If we as a commonwealth truly seek to reduce abortion rates, we must enact policies that support women having, and families raising, children. Pregnancy and childbirth are far more expensive here than other developed countries. We must enact policies to better support growing families: comprehensive coverage for pregnancy and post-natal care, paid parental leave, paid sick leave, affordable and accessible childcare, universal preschool, well-funded pre-K programs, and expanding WIC and food stamp to cover essentials like diapers, bottles, and over-the-counter medications for children. More from Liz on abortion.

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