Crowd pleads for saving health care reform law
As a young man, Paul Shuch went to the Deep South in the early to mid 1960s to help register blacks to exercise their right to vote.
The retired Lycoming College professor said he still feels compelled all these years later to stand up for what is right and was among the dozens of protesters outside UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center Thursday night.
The candlelight vigil was held in support of the thousands of residents in the 10th Congressional District who many say stand to lose health care coverage if the Affordable Care Act is repealed.
Shuch, 70, said a repeal would most certainly impact his family.
His wife, who is disabled, has seen her monthly premiums payment drop from about $1,500 a month to just over $500 monthly under the Affordable Care Act.
With a pre-existing condition, she was able to become eligible for better health insurance.
Looking around at the turnout of people assembled at High and Walnut streets for the protest, Shuch said, “It’s very gratifying.”
Some of the protesters held signs, others took part in loudly voicing their feelings.
At one point, the crowd chanted “ACA Got to Stay.”
Another chant — “Where is Tom” — could be heard, a reference to the whereabouts of U.S. Rep. Tom Marino, R-Cogan Township.
Marino and other members of congress have come under fire in the past week for refusing to hold town hall meetings to meet with constituents.
The lawmaker was reportedly scheduled to hold a physicians-only event at the medical center Thursday evening, and some protesters eagerly awaited the possibility of him showing up.
Sandra Rife, of Williamsport, said many people, like her, turned out for the vigil to express their fears about losing their health care.
“We don’t want to lose Medicare or Medicaid,” she said. “We want health care for everyone.”
She held a sign that read: “Hands off Medicare.”
“I think they need to improve the Affordable Care Act instead of replace it,” she said.
Margaret Tupper, of Williamsport, agreed, and is pessimistic about the future of health coverage under the Trump administration.
Alison Hirsch said the protest was a clear signal that people feel very strongly about the issue.
She too said the Affordable Care Act should be fixed, rather than repealed.
“If they just repeal it, it’s stupid,” said Martha Finn, a retired physician. “We need national health care.”
She said she doesn’t like Republican plans to bring back high-risk insurance pools, which could result in the least healthiest members of the population paying higher costs they can’t afford.
Shuch said he’s cautiously optimistic about how the health care issue will eventually play out.
He said protests, such as Thursday night’s, are all about bringing about positive change.
The vigil was sponsored by the Lycoming County Progressives, as well as the Susquehanna Valley Progressives and the Susquehanna Valley Ethical Society.
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