Freedland was one of several speakers at the gathering in Cameron Park, one of dozens of such assemblies across the United States Sunday on the “Save Our Healthcare National Day of Action” Democrats had called for in the run-up to president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration Friday.
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Some local Democratic leaders want you to be prepared.
Republicans have repeatedly pledged to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
The controversial law had delivered health care coverage to about 20 million people. However, premiums and co-payments have continued to rise, causing GOP leadership to question its effectiveness.
Senator Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, says the ACA isn’t ideal, but she said it’s irresponsible to repeal it without having something to replace it.
She was spending almost $1,000 per month for her own coverage and would have to pay more than $30 to have a prescription filled, she said.
President-Elect Donald Trump promised to take control of the heroin and opioid epidemic that’s taking the U.S.by storm, but some people are anxious how he’s going to accomplish that mission if Obamacare is repealed.
In addition to the rallies in Boston and MI, events were also held in 39 other locations nationwide. Health care advocates, union members and political activists crowded a hotel ballroom, some holding aloft signs to “Resist Trump” and others to “Save Our Health Care”. “We’re always looking at making it better, but we sure as hell are not going to repeal it. especially without a plan to replace it”.
Moreover, elements of the ACA ensure that patients cannot be denied coverage because of preexisting conditions, and parents can cover their children up to age 26 on their own plans.
Democrats’ aggressive display of support for the Affordable Care Act, including in smaller states like Hawaii and DE, is an attempt to pressure Republicans into backing away from dismantling the legislation.
“This really affects all of us”, said Jeff Huebner, a doctor from Madison and guest speaker for Saturday’s event.
That was the rallying cry outside of Congressman Lou Barletta’s office in Sunbury.
Hinting at the battle to come, Sanders said the rally Sunday was “the beginning of the fight, not the end of the fight”.
“We’ve been calling Toomey’s office nearly every day”, Fanelli said.
“We are all just one accident or mosquito bite away from a health care crisis”, she said.
“There’s a lot of people who despise the Democratic Party and refuse to get back in, but we’re trying to work to get people into the party so we can reform it because we think that’s the quickest and most effective way [to change things]”.
Joe and Johanna Czarnecki, of Dallas, became involved with Action Together after hearing about it from their daughter in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Her husband’s illness left her exhausted, Kaiser said.
Joe Czarnecki said he feels that if lawmakers have a way to improve the ACA, he supports that, but he is wary of the repeal before unveiling a replacement. “But if you think you’re going to repeal it with nothing to replace it, you’ve got another guess coming”.
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Kate Walsh, the president and CEO of Boston Medical Center, spoke at the Faneuil Hall health care rally, and called Baker a “champion”. Hundreds also attended a rally in Newark, New Jersey.
