Although it had a rough birthing and a raucous toddler period, the ACA was finally approved in 2010 and implemented in most areas to some degree by 2013. It took a gargantuan effort and a tremendous financial hit to get it up and running. However, it was the law of the land and everyone tried their best to make it work, especially for those who for whatever reason had been denied access to care in the past.
Some people never had an opportunity for screening exams we have come to understand are lifesavers! Others had been just dollars away from qualifying for assistance in the past, and they became eligible under the expansion programs required under the ACA.
I’m not a fan of the ACA as it is written and implemented. However, setting aside my own bias, I realize that in Washington state alone, rescinding the ACA without an alternative in place will be critical for over 775,000 people covered by the ACA now. When you add in those without coverage at this time, that will leave 1,283,000 of our neighbors, children, friends and families without care or recourse.
This is a totally unacceptable consequence that is looming over those who live in our state if House Speaker Paul Ryan and President Trump do what they say they want to do.
We cannot stand by and allow this travesty to happen! All of us, city, county, state and federal representatives, as well as, employers and just plain citizens need to speak out identifying the hardship this will cause to our families, employees, citizens and ourselves. We need to speak out for Washington state!
Kathleen Randall
Shoreline
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