Opinion: The D.C. Council must act to save health care for immigrants
The city owes its workers better than gutting their health coverage.
For 62-year-old Ana Argueta, the DC Health Alliance program has been a lifesaver. Since she arrived to the U.S. from El Salvador 24 years ago, the office cleaner and grandmother has had thyroid surgery, eye surgery, regular mammograms, and doctor’s visits to monitor her diabetes, thyroid disease, and low blood pressure. She’s even been able to use the dental plan to have infected teeth removed. The program is also how she can afford the prescription medicine necessary to keep each of these conditions in check.
Argueta and residents like her may soon lack access to this kind of care. The DC Health Alliance Program is in jeopardy, as the D.C. Council debates changes to eligibility after the mayor proposed slashing access to the program for adults over the age of 21. The council has suggested changes to the mayor’s proposal, moving the age moratorium to 26 among other changes – but this would still result in phased out coverage for thousands of adults currently using the health care plan. The program provides health care for 27,000 people in the District.
Even under the council’s new plan, Argueta could face a lack of coverage by 2027. This could put her health and life in jeopardy. Going without her daily thyroid, diabetes or blood pressure medicine could eventually kill her, her doctor has warned. It’s been hard enough for her to afford these prescriptions even with the help of Alliance coverage because Argueta’s health condition leaves her able to work only one part-time job. Without the Alliance, she may be left unable to pay her rent, or even her bus fare to work.
A budget that’s truly for immigrants and working people does not look like Mayor Bowser’s budget, which takes away health care from individuals who are already struggling to survive. Immigrant workers, including those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) – like many in the D.C. area – are vital to all sectors of the economy. Members of the 32BJ Union – which represents workers like airport employees, doormen, security officers, and window cleaners – with TPS have been living and working here legally for decades. Our union values their contributions to this area, and believes the city government owes them greater respect and care.
Argueta and the other tens of thousands of D.C. residents who will no longer be able to rely on the Alliance lifeline are already terrorized by the most anti-immigrant president and administration in our nation’s history. D.C.’s most vulnerable residents, who live in constant fear of the next ICE raids, shouldn’t have to also worry about getting sick and dying as a result of the mayor’s budget cuts.
The council’s recent pause in the mayor’s attempt tp repeal D.C.’s Sanctuary Values Amendment Act, which limits D.C. police interaction with federal agents, is a good first step to alleviating some of the hardships facing our immigrant communities. If the council and Bowser are truly dedicated to the well-being of D.C. residents, they must protect their health care, instead of leaving them more vulnerable.
The Healthcare Alliance costs pennies compared to the invaluable lives that it saves. For Argueta, the Alliance isn’t just vital to her health – it’s how she’s able to perform the job that pays her bills and keeps her alive.
Jaime Contreras is the Executive Vice President at 32BJ SEIU and Chair of SEIU’s Latino Caucus. 32BJ is the largest property service workers union in the country with 185,000 members along the East Coast, including 15,000 who live or work in D.C. They are almost exclusively Black and immigrant workers who clean and protect our office buildings, airports and higher education sites.
