As a 62-year-old retired woman who benefits from the excellent coverage and care of the ACA, I am concerned about the Republican health care plan. According to AARP (of whom I am a member) a 55 year old earning $25,000 would look at an increase of $3,600 in premiums. A 64 year old earning the same $25,000 would pay an additional $7,000. If that 64 year old only earned $15,000 they would be smacked with an $8,4000 increase.
According to the US census, Representative Erik Paulsen has close to 160,000 constituents in his district between the ages of 55 and 64. Does he realize how many people he would be trowing into poverty by voting for this plan?
I’m not just worried about myself. My dog and I volunteer at a pet therapy team visiting severely handicapped people. I have seen how precious their wheelchairs are to their comfort and dignity and how many months it takes to repair one. Their care takers are overworked and just getting to the doctor is a huge undertaking. The Republican health care plan would overhaul Medicaid punishing the approximately 562,000 Minnesotans who are disabled.
The poor, the elderly and the disabled amount to a pile of people to rile up. I am asking Representative Paulsen to take this plan which he supports back to the drawing board. Repair, don’t repeal ACA. Help, don’t harm the vulnerable.
Michelle McGrath, Eden Prairie
Edina Sun-Current, March 30, 2017