Guest Editorial: Here we go again

Well, it seems the Republican leaders in Washington, D.C. have decided to take another run at repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), otherwise known as Obamacare. There is going to be an amendment proposed but it does not change the original bill, which failed to gain enough support three weeks ago.
It will still cause 24 million people to lose their insurance coverage. People with pre-existing conditions may pay three times as much for premiums, as much as $30,000 per year. This legislation will cause states to phase out their Medicaid expansions, which will leave another 14 million people without insurance.
The Freedom Caucus of the Republican Party, of which Representative Rod Blum is a member, wants the Essential Benefits of the ACA completely removed.
The Republicans who are supporting this legislation are going to tell us a few things, first that there will be plenty of insurance plans offered. You need to know that the premiums for people with pre-existing conditions may cost $30,000 per year; many individuals are not making enough to afford this expense. Second, states may determine if they should continue with the ACA, but it is likely they will not be able to do that for an extended period due to the rising cost of premiums and the pressure from the public to keep the premiums down. Third, people with pre-existing conditions will be pulled out of the insurance pool and put into a high risk pool leading to waiting lists and no coverage just like prior to the implementation of the ACA.
This revision continues to include the tax cut for the wealthy in our country. We need our elected legislators to fix the existing ACA. There are many good components and there are pieces that our elected officials could make even better. The best solution would be Medicare for all.
This bill continues to be cruel for many who cannot afford to go without health insurance. Call your Representative and ask them to vote “no” on this bill. This revision is not a compromise or an improvement on the previously proposed legislation and does nothing to improve on affordable health insurance or decrease the cost of health care.

Warmest Regards,
Lori R. Egan, RN, BSN
Director of Health Programs
Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation