Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Meehan’s Obamacare vote draws opposition
SPRINGFIELD >> One is never too young to make her voice heard.
Three-year-old Penelope Branch and her sister, Molly, 6, were among the nearly 150 Delaware County residents who gathered outside U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan’s, R-7, office Sunday afternoon to demonstrate their concern regarding the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Meehan, U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6, and U.S. Sen. Pat Tooney, R-Pa., were among those who voted last week in favor of a budget resolution that could lead to the repeal of Obamacare.
“Republicans had eight years to come up with a new plan, but they don’t have one in place,” said the girls’ mother, Joanna, of Havertown. “We want to let Pat Meehan know we are taking action.”
Passed in March 2010, the provisions of the ACA prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions, allow children to remain on their parents’ health care plans until they are 26 and implemented government subsidies to help low-income Americans afford health insurance. States such as Pennsylvania have also launched a Medicaid expansion.
According to statistics issued by Gov. Tom Wolf’s
Wolf’s administration, approximately 439,000 Pennsylvanians selected health insurance plans from HealthCare.gov last year, with nearly 336,640 receiving subsidies to help pay for the insurance. About 670,000 state residents are covered under the Medicaid expansion.
The participants, who held signs indicating the many reasons they want the current plan to remain in place, were reinforced by passing drivers who honked in support of their stances. From “Health Care is a Human Right” and “30 million people will lose health care if ACA is repealed” to “Pat Meehan paid $2 million to destroy health care for (pregnant women, children with autism),” each person had a message to convey.
Kate and Grace Ciambrone, of Radnor, whose father has a tumor on his pituitary gland and other medical issues, carried a sign reading “Rep. Meehan – my dad has a pre-existing condition. #saveaca”
“He had surgery last year,” said Grace, 15. “The bills were really large.”
Pat Obley, of Havertown, the father of two 20-somethings who are not insured by their employers, noted the importance of keeping them on his plan as they begin their careers. He also spoke for those whose black lung benefits would be cut should ACA be repealed.
“Aside from the general social justice issue, I am here for miners in Pennsylvania and West Virginia,” he said. “When they voted in the general election, they had no idea what could happen.”
Co-organizers Sheryl ForsteGrupp, of Havertown, and Alexandria Khalil, of Jenkintown, provided handouts listing the 10 essential benefits currently offered in the health care marketplace, such as hospitalization, emergency and ambulatory patient services, prescription drugs, lab services and mental health and substance use disorder services. The documents also included statistics and perceived falsehoods regarding ACA.
Those present were encouraged to call or email Tooney, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Meehan and his colleagues in the House of Representatives and follow each legislator on Twitter. Numerous bright colored Post-Its with messages such as “Dear Sir, protect my children’s healthcare,” “Fund Planned Parenthood for women’s care” and “The ACA saves lives” were attached to the glass near the front door of the building in the hope Meehan‘s staff would see them when they arrived Monday morning.
Forste-Grupp noted the rally was a nonpartisan, grassroots effort that “just mushroomed” through email, Facebook and social media.
“People are unhappy with what is going on,” she said. “They are willing to stand up and fight for their healthcare.”