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Democrats mark “ObamaCare’s” 6th anniversary

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March 24th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Democrats staged a statehouse news conference, Wednesday, to celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, which some call “ObamaCare.” Lisa Vetter, of Red Oak, has private insurance through the government exchange that was set up by the law.  “And I don’t call the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ObamaCare,” Vetter says. “And the reason why I don’t is because I like the fact that the first two words are patient protection.”

Vetter is a cancer survivor who saw her previous insurance policy cancelled at the end of 2013. “And the only reason why I was able to purchase insurance was because of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” Vetter says. Officials say the law has protected more than one-point-three million Iowans like Vetter from coverage denials due to a pre-existing condition. Iowa Democratic Party chair Andy McGuire, is also a medical doctor. She says getting more Iowans insured means they can avoid the emergency room and, instead, get regular care.

“As a doctor, you see nothing more important than preventive care,” McGuire says. “…If we keep someone healthy, if we catch illness early before it becomes worse or more expensive, that’s really what preventive care does.” The Kaiser Family Foundation has been tracking public opinion of “ObamaCare” and polling earlier this month found 47 percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of the law.

Democrats argue the law hasn’t grown more popular because Americans continue to see increases in their health insurance premiums. The Iowa Democratic Party’s chair says since the law passed, premium costs have risen at the slowest rate in 50 years, plus 20 million uninsured Americans have obtained health insurance coverage.

(Radio Iowa)