During T During The CO he COVID VID-19 Crisis 19 Crisis The COVID - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

You Can Mak

• u Can Make A R

e A Real Impact eal Impact During T During The CO he COVID VID-19 Crisis 19 Crisis

Dena Mottola Jaborska Associate Director, New Jersey Citizen Action Email: dena@njcitizenaction.org April 26, 2020

The COVID Response Network is a communications network for advocacy, social service and community-based organizations. Any group involved in the COVID19 response is

• welcome. Our sole purpose is to facilitate

possible new partnerships and information sharing among various groups involved in COVID19 response efforts of all kinds. Our hope is that this Network deepens and expands collaboration among people and groups in New Jersey and strengthens the good work that so many of are doing to meet people’s need in this difficult time.

INCOME INCOME AD ADVOCA OCACY CY

INCOME INCOME AD ADVOCA OCACY CY

CO COVID VID19 19 crisis crisis hig highligh hlights the ts the ne need ed for p

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Sign On to Expand Paid Time Provisions for COVID-19 Relief and Beyond.

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INCOME INCOME AD ADVOCA OCACY CY

• Provide benefits and disaster relief support for undocumented immigrants and their

families to replace lost income for those who have suffered hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Grant hazard pay and 15 emergency paid sick days to ALL workers during a public health

crisis

• Improve our state Earned Sick Days law by increasing the base number of days to 7 days

and remove other barriers to accessing leave

• Enhanced job protections: for workers on a temporary layoff because of the pandemic, for

those taking NJ Family Leave and/or Temporarily Disability Insurance, and for employees at businesses of all sizes under the Family Leave Act

Advocacy to close the gaps for workers left out of the federal coronavirus response and more https://p2a.co/RZrRNo4

HEAL HEALTH TH CARE AD CARE ADVOCA OCACY CY

NJCA in partnership with our consumer health coalition, NJ For Health Care, is calling for State and Federal officials to expand coverage access and supports to respond to the increasing number of uninsured residents.

Share Your COVID-19 Health Care Story: https://p2a.co/pDKCYLl For Health Insurance Coverage Help Email: GetCovered@NJCitizenAction.org

HEAL HEALTH CARE TH CARE AD ADVOCA OCACY CY

Cover All Kids

Problem: Being uninsured limits access to health care 80K children in NJ are still uninsured - 2/3 are eligible for federal matching funds We cannot reopen schools until we can be assured children are not spreading the virus Solution: Expand coverage to all children (Bill introduced in Senate S876) Families are income eligible (up to 350% of federal poverty limit) can enroll; families with higher incomes who lack access to employer coverage can buy-in to the program Benefit: NJ will receive increased federal dollars to cover kids $8.6 million in charity care now spent on children will be saved Ensuring public health by guaranteeing all children have access to coverage for Coronavirus testing & treatment Better access = better academic and health outcomes

HEAL HEALTH CARE TH CARE AD ADVOCA OCACY CY

Covering Uninsured Adults

Problem: More than 400 - 500,000 NJ adults remain uninsured Many don't qualify for existing programs due to immigration status Current options are unaffordable Solution: NJ can offer more affordable coverage when the NJ Health Insurance Exchange opens Program options include: a Medicaid-like program or providing state subsidies to low income families (Dept. of Banking & Ins. is doing a study on this now) Benefit: We could close the covering gap that exists More families would be insured and able to access care needed to monitor & treat COVID

HEAL HEALTH CARE TH CARE AD ADVOCA OCACY CY

Health Insurance Assessment

Problem: Many NJ residents remain uninsured and unable to afford coverage The State needs revenue in order to expand coverage Solution: NJ can transfer a federal Health Insurance Assessment due to expire this year This is a small (2.7% tax on insurers) The federal government now collects $567 million from NJ insurers Benefit: The tax could generate millions of dollars to fund expanded coverage and affordability

• ptions for NJ families

HEAL HEALTH CARE TH CARE AD ADVOCA OCACY CY

We need both State and Federal reform to rein in the cost of prescription drugs State Reform

Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board Would evaluate drug prices and set limits on how much payers, including state and local government agencies will pay for high cost prescription medications

Federal Reform

• Hold prescription drug corporations

accountable to start putting people over profits

• Stop these corporations’ monopoly

control over the cost of drugs

• Prevent the profiteering off of the

pandemic

• Increase transparency

Join our NJ For Affordable Drugs Campaign - https://p2a.co/ODtAbxH

CONSUMER CONSUMER PR PROTECTION AD TECTION ADVOCA OCACY CY

Among the most basic and most costly living expenses we have is our housing. The must act to make sure that no one in New Jersey is in jeopardy of losing their homes because of COVID – 19!

• MORTGAGE DEFERMENT
• RENTAL DEFERMENT
• RENTAL ASSISTANCE
• NO NEGATIVE

Advocacy For Renter & Homeowners Protections During COVID -19 in New Jersey

CONSUMER CONSUMER PR PROTECTION AD TECTION ADVOCA OCACY CY

Advocacy For Consumer Protections During COVID -19 in New Jersey

With hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans losing their jobs each week, they will not be able to pay for their basic living expenses, much less pay down debt. New Jersey must immediately:

• INVESTIGATE and advocate for refunding improper garnishment of CARES Act checks

by federal student loan servicers AND for the duration of the State of emergency and at least 90 days after it is lifted

• PROTECT all stimulus checks and & unemployment benefits from garnishment or

seizure

• STOP debt collection activities
• STOP new debt court filings
• STOP negative credit reporting

ACT NOW https://p2a.co/xD58nwP

CONSU CONSUMER MER PR PROTECTION AD TECTION ADVOCA OCACY CY

Emergency Rental Assistance Program - S2332 (Stack/Sweeney) Dedicates $100 Million to rental assistance for low-, moderate- and medium- income families who have lost in income due to the COVID-19 crisis and are struggling to pay rent. Renter, Homeowner and Consumer Protections -A3948 (Timberlake)/ S2377 (Singleton) Suspends mortgage, rent and consumer loan payments during the state of emergency. It requires and specifies affordable long-term and flexible repayment options without interest or penalties and prohibits negative credit reporting. COVID19 Financial Security for Consumers Act - S2330 (Pou/Cryan) - A3908 (Jasey) Protect consumers from debt collection enforcement actions debt incurred before or during state

• f emergency and prohibits negative credit reporting for debts incurred during the crisis.

Current Legislation Proposed to Protect Renters, Homeowners & Consumers During COVID -19 in New Jersey

You Can Mak

• u Can Make A R

e A Real Impact eal Impact During T During The CO he COVID VID-19 Crisis 19 Crisis

• Stay Informed, Sign Up for NJCA Emails:

https://p2a.co/lAotTkz

• Income Support Advocacy: Yarrow Willman-

Cole, Workplace Justice Program Director – Yarrow@njcitizenaction.org

• Health Care Advocacy: Maura Collinsgru,

Health Care Program Director – Maura@njcitizenaction.org

• Consumer Protections Support Advocacy:

Beverly Brown Ruggia, Financial Justice/CRA Organizer - Beverly@njcitizenaction.org

• Join the NJCOVID19 Response Network:

Dena@njcitizenaction.org Yarrow@njcitizenaction.org

Contact Us

Find us on Facebook & Twitter: @NJCitizenAction Join our update / action email network: www.njcitizenaction.org