Three Effingham residents protest GOP health plan

May 08--EFFINGHAM -- As a pediatrician, Dr. Dan Niebrugge is worried about the children he cares for -- and others -- if Obamacare is repealed, which the the U.S. House of Representatives took the first step toward doing last week. The bill, backed by President Donald Trump, was sent to the Senate for review.

Niebrugge and two other Effingham residents, George and Linda Mitchell, who said they care about the welfare of others, spent two hours outside U.S. Rep. John Shimkus' office at the county government building on Saturday. Shimkus, R-Collinsville, has long pushed for the elimination of Obamacare and voted with his fellow Republicans to repeal it and replace it with the GOP's own version.

"I'm a pediatrician, so I'm a part of American Academy of Pediatrics, and there's no way we can ever be in favor of taking away Obamacare, because so many of our kids are covered by Obamacare," said Niebrugge, who works at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield.

"I take care of kids with leukemia," said Niebrugge. "That's a pre-existing condition. You take that away they'll never be able to get insurance in their life." (See a discussion of "pre-existing conditions on Page A3.)

The three held signs: "Rep. Shimkus 300 Billion Tax Rebate for the Wealthy! Have you no shame!!" and "Shame! Shame! Rep. Shimkus 24 million lose healthcare with Trumpcare." "Let's Talk Healthcare" then listed several medical groups who oppose Trumpcare as it is written now.

"For seven years, I've fought to repeal all of Obamacare's mandates, middle class taxes, abortion subsidies, insurance company bailouts, and unaffordable, one-size-fits-all health insurance plans," Shimkus said in a statement released after the House vote on Thursday.

But Niebrugge said that under the bill supported by Trump and Shimkus, older Americans will pay more for health insurance, at a time when they need it most. He also worries about the provision that means pre-existing conditions won't apply if a state opts out of the national healthcare plan.

"I also assured my constituents that our replacement would include protections for patients with pre-existing conditions," Shimkus said in his statement. "My vote today does all of the above."

Niebrugge agrees that improvements to Obamacare are needed, but argues that the law doesn't need a complete overhaul.

"While not everything is right about Obamacare, it just needs to be improved, not thrown out," said Niebrugge. "Right now, it doesn't cover everyone. There are still some people without insurance."

Shimkus said in a follow-up statement that the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) does not mean "affordable coverage."

"That's why the AHCA (Trumpcare) sets aside $100 billion over 10 years to help states with high-risk pools and other innovations," he wrote. "It sets aside an additional $15 billion specifically for maternity care, mental health care, and substance abuse treatment. And it sets aside an additional $15 billion for a federal invisible risk-sharing program -- another innovative way to help people access affordable coverage."

On top of that, the Upton-Long Amendment to the AHCA secured an additional $8 billion over five years to help lower costs for patients with pre-existing conditions, Shimkus said.

Shimkus added that the AHCA, which encompasses 126 pages, promises a person cannot be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. He wrote in an email that the text of the American Health Care Act itself has been available for all to read since March 30. Amendments to the original bill came in time for review before last week's vote, he said.

"On Page 7 of the MacArthur Amendment to the AHCA, makes it clear," wrote Shimkus. "No limiting access to coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions -- Nothing in this Act shall be construed as permitting health insurance issuers to limit access to health coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions."

But the three opponents of the bill who held signs in downtown Effingham on Saturday are not convinced.

"We're trying to make a clear point that voting for this bill is a big mistake," said Niebrugge.

"Rep. Shimkus cast a 'yes' vote and we're disappointed in that," said Linda Mitchell. "If there's anything that affects every single one of us, it is health care."

"If we don't have insurance coverage it means that more people will use the wrong care," said Niebrugge. "They're going to use the emergency room more and less preventative care."

Linda Mitchell pointed out that people who make over $250,000 a year were being taxed to help pay for Obamacare. Now, $300 billion a tax rebate is in the plan to be returned to the wealthy.

Shimkus, however, said the new program empowers states.

"Passage of the American Health Care Act is a win for President Trump, but more importantly it's a win for the millions of Americans who are forced to buy a product they can't afford to use," Shimkus wrote.

"The AHCA will empower states to offer, and patients to choose from, a broader range of affordable insurance plans that better fit each individual and family's unique needs."

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