Utah’s four House members — all Republicans — voted again Thursday to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and this time also voted for its proposed replacement: the American Health Care Act.
SALT LAKE CITY — Several years ago, Stephanie Rosenfeld relied on the health insurance of her then-husband, who owned a small business.
The couple’s monthly premium wasn’t always easy to pay, but it was manageable, Rosenfeld said. Their health care situation was stable.
Everything changed in 2007. Rosenfeld’s husband had to close his business, began a job in consulting that didn’t come with insurance — and then fell ill.
“We were just a regular family going through a pretty rough patch, ” said Rosenfeld, 56, a nonprofit grant writer who doesn’t have the benefit of employer health insurance.
The Sugar House woman credits the Affordable Care Act — nicknamed by its opponents as Obamacare — for saving her from her health care woes beginning in 2014, when she signed up for coverage on the federal insurance exchange.
” (It’s) huge, ” she said. “It keeps people from going under.”
But while the Affordable Care Act has earned its fair share converts across the country, it also has been a bitterly divisive law since passing in 2010. Congressional Republicans made it their main target and voted dozens of times to repeal the law while then-President Barack Obama was still in office.
Utah’s four House members — all Republicans — voted again Thursday to repeal the law, and this time also voted for its proposed replacement, the American Health Care Act.
The same bill stalled six weeks earlier and failed to reach a vote, but this time narrowly passed, 217-213.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who wasn’t expected to be in Washington this week after foot surgery, made a surprise visit to vote. Chaffetz and Utah’s other House members called it a first step toward health care reform.
“No doubt there is still work to do, ” he said. “But I believe the Republicans’ health care plan is the right first step toward fixing a complex and crumbling system.”
Chaffetz, who rolled into the House chamber on a scooter, said Obamacare has driven up premiums for people in his district, and several counties have just one insurer available to them.
“This situation is simply not acceptable. States need the ability to manage health care locally, ” he said.
Chaffetz, who recently announced he would not seek re-election in 2018 and might step down early, took considerable flak on social media for showing up to vote.
“Jason Chaffetz, fresh from surgery FOR A PREEXISTING CONDITION, en route to sign death warrant for disabled children, ” said one tweet over a photo of the congressman on the scooter.
Another tweet said: “May his political career end unremarked and he be nothing more than a footnote in history.”
Rep. Mia Love said the status quo is unacceptable. The American Health Care Act puts patients in charge of their health decisions and doesn’ t require people to buy insurance, she said.
“Utahns, not the federal government, should decide what is best for them and their health care, ” Love said.
The legislation provides many levels of protection for those with preexisting conditions, while giving states greater flexibility to lower premiums and stabilize the insurance market, she said. Women’s access to health services will be expanded with money going to community health centers, Love said.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee blasted Love for her vote on the bill.
“Make no mistake about it: Love must face the music, look her constituents in the eye, and answer for the mess she created, ” committee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan said in a statement.
Lujan said the bill raises premiums and deductibles, tosses 24 million Americans off their insurance, and lets insurers charge more for preexisting conditions.
“That means if you, your kids or your parents are sick with cancer, diabetes or any other illness, insurance will not be affordable, ” he said.
Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski said the House vote leaves a “grave gap” in health care coverage, especially for senior citizens, low-income families and those most in need.
“This comes at a time when the city, county and state are engaged in a critical collaboration to address homelessness, including some of its underlying causes — most notably, mental health and substance abuse, ” the mayor said in a statement.
Biskupski said the vote shows that too many congressional leaders are more concerned in political posturing than thoughtful, well-crafted ways to improve the Affordable Care Act.
Rep. Rob Bishop said in addition to raising premiums, Obamacare caused workers to have their hours slashed or even lose their jobs. Americans, he said, have been forced into either a government program or being fined, and newly insured people were pushed into a plan doomed to fail.
“The passage of today’s health care reform bill is the first step to allow people to have choices that meet their needs, not forced into what the government demands, ” Bishop said.
Rep. Chris Stewart said the House delivered on the promise to repeal and replace Obamacare.
“The American Health Care Act will drive down costs, offer families more choices and importantly protect people with preexisting conditions, ” Stewart said.
