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Kaptur holds roundtable with northern Ohio residents on health care

February 23, 2017

Washington D.C. – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) held a conference call and open press discussion in Toledo with residents of northern Ohio who shared firsthand accounts of the impact the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has had on their lives.

"Thank you to these voices from our community for speaking out on the impact of changing the Affordable Care Act," said Kaptur. "The ACA has key protections that promote wellness, preventative care and help to curb costs for consumers. When it comes to convincing Congress, the American people are our best weapons. In order to learn how to improve our health care system, we must listen to the people. Let's not move forward with reckless repeal, instead, let's build on this progress."

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ACA Round Table

From left to right; Joseph, Mary, Alicia, Rep. Kaptur, Nicholas, Kaylie


Below are summaries of the stories shared on the call:

Mary and Joseph: Joseph is self-employed and his health care has been covered through Mary's employer-sponsored insurance. Mary retires this year and is eligible for Medicare. Since he will no longer be covered through his wife's health insurance Joseph, at 62, is trying to bridge the insurance gap until he is eligible for Medicare. They considered getting coverage through the Marketplace but opted for COBRA insurance for 18 months in lieu of the exchange, citing uncertainty from Washington regarding the status of the health care law. The monthly COBRA payment is twice the premium of insurance through the exchange with a subsidy. Joseph is also putting off a knee replacement because of this uncertainty.

Alicia: As a single parent, Alicia twice benefitted from Medicaid while she was serving in the AmeriCorps State and Vista programs. One occasion was surgery for Alicia's son to have his tonsils removed, and the other was a procedure, for Alicia, to remove pre-cancerous cells. Medicaid provided peace of mind and on both occasions, Alicia would not have been able to pay for the surgeries without Medicaid.

Nicholas: Nicholas is a 21-year-old college student about to graduate. He has Crohn's Disease and has been suffering with it for six years. He is under his parent's insurance which the ACA allows until age 26. The coverage provides great help in covering his medical bills. His treatment his prohibitively expensive and costs about $50,000 to $60,000 every eight weeks. Nicholas would not be able to afford this life-saving treatment without insurance. When he graduates, without the assurances provided through the ACA which prohibit discrimination or exclusion based on pre-existing conditions as well as the elimination of lifetime caps, Nicholas' health insurance future is uncertain.

Kaylie: Kaylie's father fell ill in 2007 when Kaylie was nine and Medicaid was the only insurance she has ever known. Her father was in and out of hospitals until his death in 2014. Kaylie's family was able to afford the care her father needed because of Medicaid. Additionally, Kaylie recently injured her knee and once again Medicaid was her saving grace.

Facts about the Affordable Care Act in Ohio:

  • In Ohio's Ninth District 44,000 individuals gained health insurance since 2012, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. The uninsured rate was cut in half in the District, from 13.3% in 2012 to 7% in 2015. [U.S. Census Bureau data]

  • According to the House Energy and House Oversight Committees, 866,000 individuals in Ohio have gained coverage since the ACA was implemented and could lose their coverage if the ACA is entirely or partially repealed.

  • 212,046 individuals purchased high-quality Marketplace coverage now stand to lose their coverage if the Republican Congress dismantles the exchanges.

  • 174,448 individuals received financial assistance to purchase Marketplace coverage in 2016, averaging $250 per individual, and are at risk of having coverage become unaffordable if the Republican Congress eliminates the premium tax credits.

  • 665,900 individuals enrolled in Medicaid under the ACA's Medicaid expansion and could now stand to lose coverage if the Republican Congress eliminates the Medicaid expansion.

  • 119,000 kids have gained coverage since the ACA was implemented.

  • 81,000 young adults were able to stay on a parent's health insurance plan thanks to the ACA. They now stand to lose coverage if the Republican Congress eliminates the requirement that insurers allow children to stay on their parents' plans until age 26.

Issues:Health Care