Mass rallies planned in LA County, nationwide to save Obamacare from GOP repeal

March 23--A thousand demonstrators worried about the future of health care are expected to gather for a rally in downtown Los Angeles Thursday as part of a nationwide effort to pressure lawmakers to keep the Affordable Care Act intact and in place.

The Save the Affordable Care Act rallies planned across Los Angeles County and beyond come on the same day House Republicans have scheduled to repeal and replace the law, a campaign promise made by President Donald Trump. But his pledge has been met with a deluge of criticism by Democrats and some Republicans, who say 24 million Americans will lose health care coverage under a new GOP backed proposal. It was unclear by Wednesday night if the House vote would move forward.

Whether the vote takes place or not, the goal behind Thursday's rally is to send a loud message that lives, jobs, and the economy are all at stake if the Affordable Care Act is repealed, said Louise McCarthy, president and CEO of the Community Clinics Association of Los Angeles, the organization leading the downtown LA rally. The rally starts at 12:30 p.m. and is held at the Ed Roybal Federal Building, 255 East Temple St. Mini rallies also will be held at community clinics in Lancaster, Pomona, Covina, West Covina, San Pedro, North Hollywood, North Hills, and Santa Monica.

"We're elevating the visibility of the Affordable Care Act and what it means for us and the expansions it made possible," McCarthy said. "It's important for us to celebrate for one moment where we're at and highlight what's at stake if it's taken away."

The Affordable Care Act was signed into law exactly seven years ago Thursday by President Barack Obama. Dubbed Obamacare, the main provision under the act is that all Americans must be covered under a health insurance plan or be penalized at tax time.

The law also prohibits insurance companies from turning away customers for pre-existing medical conditions.

Republicans have long sought to repeal it, however, saying it forced premiums to rise, was unfair to the middle class, and pressured people into coverage they didn't want or need. It was unclear Wednesday if a majority of Republicans were in support of the House GOP proposed American Health Care Act, dubbed Trumpcare by Democrats. Their proposal won't repeal patient protections, including those with pre-existing conditions, but it will take away the subsidies that was a key element of Obamacare.

In a statement released Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Steve Knight, R-Lancaster, said he has not taken a position on the American Health Care Act. Knight held a town hall meeting in Palmdale earlier this month, where 500 people reportedly attended. Most expressed concern about health care.

"The future of our nation's health care is extremely important and warrants thorough examination and discussion, which is why we will continue to carefully review the recent proposed changes to the bill and discuss its impacts with members of our community," Knight said in a statement.

California, which was among the first states to embrace Obamacare and to establish a health insurance exchange, would lose billions in federal funding. The result would gut the state budget, health advocates have said.

A report released Wednesday from the Department of Health Care Services shows California would lose $6 billion in federal funding in 2020, growing to $24.3 billion by 2027, if the Affordable Care Act is repealed and replaced with the House GOP proposed American Health Care Act.

"Congress is rushing to vote on their health plan because it's clear that as more analysis is done, the more Americans find out how bad it is," said Anthony Wright, executive director of the consumer advocacy coalition Health Access California. "This health bill will not only lead to 24 million more uninsured, including 4-5 million more in California, but would also be a multi-billion dollar blow to our state budget."

Los Angeles County would have the most to lose, McCarthy said. About 1.5 million people gained health insurance through the state exchange known as Covered California. At least 63,000 jobs would be lost in the health care field if a repeal occurs, McCarthy added.

"Whatever happens in the House, this isn't over," McCarthy said. "We're going to fight every bill, every decision at every level because this is our mission. You're seeing people across our nation standing up and saying 'don't take away something that matters to me'."

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