Single payer and public option the stars at rally to save Obamacare

By Steve Ahlquist
RI Future

Across the country there were rallies held to protect the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. In Rhode Island, Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse were joined by Representative James Langevin on stage at Rhode Island College. Representative David Cicilline was traveling out of country but is also a strong supporter of the ACA.
Over 450 people attended the Rally to Defend the Affordable Care Act, which was called by Senators Chuck Schumer and Bernie Sanders in reaction to repeated threats by the Donald Trump administration and a Republican controlled Congress that has promised the “repeal and replace” the popular program that currently allows 20 million people to have medical insurance.

“The Republican Party‘s plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act is in chaos,” wrote Schumer and Sanders. “The American people increasingly understand that throwing 20 million people off health insurance, privatizing Medicare, raising prescription drug costs for seniors and doing away with life-and-death patient protection provisions is not acceptable. The overwhelming majority of Americans want to improve the ACA, not destroy it.”

The rally in Rhode Island was held in conjunction with the Protect Our Healthcare Coalition RI. The coalition notes that in Rhode Island, the ACA has produced the following benefits:

– More than 100,000 Rhode Islanders now have healthcare coverage through Medicaid expansion and HealthSource RI subsidized plans.
– 465,000 Rhode Islanders cannot be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition.
– 15,000 RI Seniors save a combined $14 million annually on their prescription drugs.
– More than 12,000 new jobs have been created in our healthcare industry through investments in our healthcare system under the ACA.
– Investments in primary care and prevention mean fewer emergency room visits and better quality of life, especially for those with chronic conditions.

Senator Jack Reed told the crowd “You are making a huge difference in keeping the Affordable Care Act!”

“The first job of the new Republican Congress was on day one to repeal Obamacare,” said Reed, “Because of you that didn’t happen, and because of what we do today, and the next day and the next day, it won’t happen.”

Rachel Flum executive director of the Economic Progress Institute, represented the Protect Our Healthcare Coalition RI. “Here in Rhode Island the uninsured rate has gone down to 4 percent,” said Flum, “The lowest it’s ever been.” It’s not just the ACA, but Medicare and Medicaid are also under threat from Congress.

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