Washington, D.C. — A new video relays the personal challenges of Laura Campbell, an Aurora, New York, native and college professor of 30 years, who has been battling the effects of ulcerative colitis for decades. When her husband retired after an ongoing fight with cancer, Campbell found herself uninsured and unable to afford the care she needed. It wasn’t until the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed that she was able to get affordable treatment again. Campbell fears going back to that time given the Republic Party’s hostility toward the ACA and pre-existing conditions protections, and, as she explains, Rep. John Katko’s (R-NY-24) vote to sabotage the health care law and increase premiums through the Republican tax bill puts her and thousands of other New York residents at risk.
Watch the video on Twitter.
Watch the video on YouTube.
As Campbell states in the video, “A lot of people who deal with ongoing health conditions struggle every day with how they’re going to pay for necessary things to prolong their lives,” adding that “We deserve to have a representative who listens to the people and is not going to be bought by the big-money spenders.”
The video is part of an ongoing effort by the Center for American Progress Action Fund to provide a platform for real Americans who are being negatively affected by the GOP’s donor-driven agenda.
Unfortunately, this story is familiar to many New Yorkers. Without the Affordable Care Act and protections on pre-existing conditions, many like Campbell are at constant risk of losing their health care under the continued Republican-led sabotage of the ACA.
As part of the Republican tax bill, Rep. Katko voted to repeal the individual mandate, which will likely cause premiums to be as much as $572 higher than they otherwise would be for New Yorkers. Rep. Katko voted to sabotage the ACA and hike health care premiums for people like Campbell. New York deserves better.
For more information on this topic or to talk to an expert, please contact Jesse Lee at [email protected] or 202-741-6350.
###
The Center for American Progress Action Fund is the sister advocacy organization of the Center for American Progress. The Action Fund transforms progressive ideas into policy through rapid response communications, legislative action, grassroots organizing and advocacy, and partnerships with other progressive leaders throughout the country and the world. The Action Fund is also the home of the Progress Report.