Threats of Repealing the Affordable Care Act Faced by Patients, Caregivers, and Families in Tennessee

Today, healthcare advocates came together to fight the Republican promise of repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Concerned citizens and advocates in Tennessee are determined to defend the ACA’s key provisions which have expanded healthcare coverage to Americans with pre-existing conditions, allowed those under the age of 26 to stay on their parents’ plan, eliminated lifetime and yearly coverage caps, and has covered millions of working families and children in states that have expanded Medicaid.

Local Nashvillian and journalist with Drum! Magazine, Andy Doerschuk, stated,

“It is because of the Affordable Care Act insurance companies couldn’t deny me health coverage because of my pre-existing condition — and I was able to find health coverage I could afford on the exchange. That meant for me the peace of mind knowing I could continue getting treatments and still run my business, spend time with my family- and live.”

At today’s press conference, advocates outlined what’s at stake for Tennessee’s families if the Republicans were to succeed at repealing the ACA without replacing it. For millions of Americans there is much uncertainty in a world without the Affordable Care Act, and there is even more uncertainty if the ACA is repealed without a plan to replace the law.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act in Tennessee, up to 2,765,000 individuals with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, cancer, or diabetes – including up to 353,000 children – no longer have to worry about being denied coverage or charged higher prices because of their health status or history.  This week the Urban Institute released a study confirming what we already know – repealing the Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan would more than double the number of uninsured Americans—30 million Americans, resulting in an even higher rate of uninsured Americans than before the ACA was passed in 2010. In Tennessee, 526,000 of people would lose their coverage if the law were repealed.  

Providers would also face long-lasting impacts if that law were repealed. A report issued by the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Federation of American Hospitals (FAH) this week found that Hospitals would suffer a multibillion dollar loss if the law were repealed. In follow up letters, AHA and FAH urged President-Elect Trump and Congressional leaders to consider how repealing the ACA, without an immediate replacement, would have widespread impacts on Hospitals and health systems across the country.   

The passage of the ACA made healthcare a right and not a choice in this country. Millions of Americans—patients, doctors, nurses, and families are determined to fight any attempt to repeal this law without a comprehensive replacement plan—one that safeguards the law’s key provisions and ensures that no one can be denied coverage.