Donald Trump

What ‘Repeal and Replace' Means for Health Care in North Texas

The gloves are off in Washington as lawmakers battle over whether to repeal or uphold the Obama administration's Affordable Care Act.

Republican law makers are holding strong to the “repeal and replace” message.

The hard promise of repeal is tied to a shaky plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, which currently provides health care for approximately 20 million people.

Democrats are fighting back with a new slogan, “Make America Sick Again,” urging law makers to uphold the health care plan.

Within the last 30 days, 775,000 Texans have signed up to receive coverage under Obama Care. According to Stephen Love, President and CEO of the DFW Hospital Council, says 215,000 of those are North Texans.

Love says that, under the Affordable Care Act, many people have benefited. Medicare coverage and prescription drugs for seniors are more affordable. Young adults will remain on their parents insurance until the age of 26, and people with pre-existing conditions receive coverage as well, Love said.

“4.5 million Texans, approximately 27 percent, have some form of pre-existing condition that prior to the affordable care act would either one have no coverage or would have to pay an extremely high premium to have coverage,” said Love.

He believes modification could be made for small business owners to elevate some of their burden.

Vice President Elect Mike Pence is advocating for a swift, yet “smooth” transition process, and Love is hoping the transition period runs between two and three years, so families are not taken off guard.

“The repeal could potentially have a $165 billion dollar negative impact for hospitals across the country,” said Love.

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