Medicaid Expansion Candlelight Vigil

Across the nation there are 23 states that have not expanded their Medicaid programs to their gap populations. Utah is one of the non-expansion states, with over 45,000 Utahns currently living with no access to affordable healthcare coverage. These Utahns earn too little to qualify for help on healthcare.gov, yet earn too much money or otherwise don’t qualify for our current Medicaid program.

On Saturday, October 18^th, 2014 supporters of Medicaid expansion in over a dozen states will gather at their state capitols for candlelight vigils in support of Medicaid expansion.

In Utah we will gather at the south steps of the state capitol to implore our legislature to accept federal funding for Medicaid expansion or Governor Herbert’s Healthy Utah Plan. Religious leaders, healthcare professionals, and Utahns who fall into the coverage gap will speak.

Dr. David Sundwall will be speaking at this event.

Date: Saturday October 18^th

Time: 7:00pm-8:30pm

Location: Utah State Capitol, South Steps of the State Capitol, outdoors

Schedule:

•          7-minute version of the film Entitled to Life will be shown
•          Opening prayer from a Catholic clergyman
•          Dr. David Sundwall will offer his thoughts on why Utah should close the coverage gap
•          Hear from Utahns in the Medicaid coverage gap, Stacy Davis-Stanford and Melanie Soules
•          Statements from NAMI and USARA on how access to healthcare will impact those with mental health and substance use disorders
•          Closing prayer

Vigil Event: Link

Petition Link: Link