WATCH: Advocates urge Shore lawmakers to keep Obamacare

Jan. 19--Obamacare has left consumers with rising premiums and higher deductibles, but Congress intent on repealing the law needs to have an alternative ready to go so that consumers aren't left without health care, a New Jersey Republican said Wednesday.

U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur's comments came as consumer advocates fanned out to Republican lawmakers' offices statewide, urging them to keep the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

"Somebody like me really needs the Affordable Care Act," Lauren Townsend, 53, of Bradley Beach, said. She pays upwards of $300 a month for her plan, but she needs hip replacement surgery soon. "The alternative would be to pay a lot more in premium dollars, and something like a hip replacement might be unaffordable."

The Affordable Care Act, outgoing President Barack Obama's signature legislative achievement, is under fire after his successor Donald Trump and a GOP-controlled Congress have promised to repeal the law.

Their task, however, isn't simple. Some 800,000 New Jerseyans are covered through Obamacare's individual marketplace or its expansion of Medicaid. The percentage of consumers under 65 without health insurance fell from 16 percent in 2010 to 8 percent in 2015. Enrollment for 2017 has exceeded 2016. And the Republicans have yet to release details of an alternative plan.

A report released this week by the Congressional Budget Office found repealing the law would increase the number of uninsured by 18 million in the first year, rising to 32 million by 2026. And premiums for individual policyholders would increase 20 percent to 25 percent.

MacArthur and the Shore's other Republican Congressman, Chris Smith, agreed that the law didn't live up to its promise, noting that consumers continue to struggle to keep up with the cost of premiums and deductibles. But they disagreed on the path forward.

Smith said: "The reconciliation process now underway offers Congress and the incoming administration a chance to enact innovative solutions that provide Americans with more choices, lower costs, and greater flexibility-- while protecting the most vulnerable among us."

MacArthur said: "Skyrocketing premiums, disappearing insurance plans and out-of-control deductibles are failing the American people...I will keep fighting to carefully, rather than quickly replace Obamacare, and make sure that all Americans can buy the health insurance they need and that nobody has the rug pulled out from under them."

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The issue, which stoked fierce protests from its opponents, now is provoking the same level of intensity from its supporters. New Jersey Citizen Action, a consumer group, organized demonstrations at Congressional Republican offices statewide on Wednesday.

Bonney Parker, of Toms River, was one of 16 people who demonstrated at MacArthur's field office in front of the Toms River Town Hall, in part to thank him for his caution.

"If they can make improvements on what was there before, then fine," Parker said. "But let's see a plan. (The Republicans) have nothing and they're already voting to repeal it. ... That's why I'm out here. And hopefully, there also won't be any cuts to Medicare or Social Security."

Meantime, about 40 of the law's supporters delivered a letter to Smith's office in Freehold Township. They talked about the law's importance, holding signs and candles.

Liz DeBeer, 54, of Fair Haven, agreed that her health insurance plan was expensive. But she said she has a congenital heart defect that requires her to see a cardiologist. It isn't cheap.

"It is expensive, but it would be more expensive not to have it," she said. "I think it's an imperfect system that should be improved. But I don't think it should be repealed. I think it should be improved. I've got to believe they're not going to want to deny so many of their constituents health care."

Michael L. Diamond; 732-643-4038; mdiamond@gannettnj.com

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