Kelly Powers
Health Care is a Human Right - WA Steering Commitee
Washington state
Kelly Powers’ family purchased an ACA healthcare plan the first year it was offered and immediately ran into surprise billing and narrow network issues. Buffeted by spiraling premium rates and formidable cost-sharing, she found herself becoming a Consumer Advocate.
She was appointed to the Washington State UHC Work Group as a Consumer Representative. She formed a subcommittee as part of the Health Care is a Human Right - WA (HCHR-WA) coalition to bring people from all walks of life before the Work Group to share an array of lived experiences and expertise. The coalition successfully centered the Work Group on affordability and convinced the financial analysts to assume no cost-sharing in the financial models. She serves on the HCHR-WA Steering Committee and continues to Co-Chair the subcommittee advocating and helping the new, permanent WA Universal Health Care Commission.