Coalition calls on Congress to oppose ACA repeal

Jan. 05--WATERLOO -- ReShonda Young fought to ensure the Affordable Care Act, now known as Obamacare, became law. She traveled to Washington, D.C., testified before Congress and explained the positive impact the law would have on her father's business.

When she opened Popcorn Heaven in 2014, she was grateful to have an affordable health insurance option for her employees.

Now, as a Republican Congress and President-elect Donald Trump have made repeal of the ACA one of their top priorities, Young is fighting once more.

"It was such a victory when the ACA was signed into law. It was done on my birthday, so it was like the biggest birthday present," Young recalled of the law signed by Democratic President Barack Obama in March 2010.

Young was one of a half-dozen speakers gathered at her Waterloo business Wednesday calling on Iowa's congressional delegation to keep Obamacare.

The advocates offered insights into the impact repeal would have on Iowans. They estimated 230,000 Iowans would lose coverage. Repeal could affect up to 1.3 million Iowans with pre-existing conditions and cost the state up to $7.4 billion over 10 years. They also noted only 26 percent of Americans support repealing the law.

"It's just like to go back to where we were at, it really doesn't make sense," Young said. "We've elected some smart people into public office; I mean, they need to start making some smart decisions, because repealing the ACA is not a smart decision. It's just putting us back into this tailspin."

Cindy Ramer, of Denver, recalled prior to the ACA she and her husband, Jim, were unable to afford insurance. When Jim's heart condition required a stent, it cost them $33,000. They tried to keep up on payments but ultimately filed for bankruptcy. When Jim had a fatal heart attack in 2005, it left Cindy Ramer with more debt.

"(I) was finally able to get health care coverage that I could afford through the ACA," Cindy Ramer said. She's since become eligible for Medicare, which also has additional benefits through the Affordable Care Act.

Mike Tramontina, who helps Iowans sign up for the ACA, said the most common users in Iowa are women whose husbands have retired and joined Medicare, leaving them uninsured or with expensive coverage until they themselves reach the age for Medicare.

If the law is repealed, those who sign up between now and Jan. 31 will have health insurance through 2017, Tramontina said.

Lon Kammeyer, who is retired and represented the Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans, said thanks to ACA improvements to Medicare he can get annual screenings -- which have already helped -- and more easily afford prescription drugs.

Like the other speakers, Dave Welter isn't thinking about just himself. The retired Holmes Junior High School principal worries about the health care needs of students attending the Cedar Falls middle school.

"It's my hope ... as policies begin to take shape under this new administration, those policies will ensure access to some of our most vulnerable families and youth. Otherwise, no matter how much we as educators care ... our kids will continue to struggle both in and out of school," Welter said.

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He said he's worked with U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, in the past.

"I'm hoping he's listening today, as he's part of this new policy legislation," Welter said.

Northeast Iowa's delegation, and most Republicans, have been united in their opposition to the Affordable Care Act. Grassley said in a statement Tuesday legislation to repeal the ACA has already been introduced in the Budget Committee, of which he's a member.

"Obamacare over-promised and under-delivered. With every year, it's been sinking deeper, and the ship is on the brink of capsizing," Grassley said. "The resolution introduced today is the first step in repealing a collapsing program and replacing it with policies that work for working families."

U.S. Rep. Rod Blum, R-1st District, said last week he expected Congress to act quickly to repeal the law but delay the implementation until a replacement is passed.

"Let's have open and transparent discussions, debates, hearings on the best way to replace it," Blum said. "It seems to me when government rushes into things, we generally don't get it right."

The advocates who spoke in Waterloo on Wednesday asked that lawmakers fix the law rather than repeal it.

"I really, really hope that Congress will look at not repealing but actually just fixing the parts that are broken and keeping those parts that are not, because not everything about it is bad," Young said.

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