Impact of ACA repeal gets hearing before Philly City Council

From patients to health care workers, those worried about what will happen if the Affordable Care Act is repealed testified before Philadelphia City Council Monday.  

An end of the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, is frightening many Philadelphia residents, said City Councilwoman Cindy Bass, starting off the hearing.

“Whenever you take away something that has improved the quality of people’s lives with no equivalent replacement, we — as a people, as a community, as a city — are bound for serious problems,” she said.

Homecare worker Kaliena Stewart said she worries about losing her job if the law is repealed.

“Without the ACA, there will be a lot more untreated diseases and death,” she said. “People are scared to go to the hospital now because they are afraid of the cost. People are choosing between a life-threatening situation and a hospital bill.”

Republicans in Congressional Republicans have said they will introduce a bill this week to replace the Affordable Care Act with something they can support.