For some, Obamacare is the only way they can get health insurance, but with President Elect Donald Trump’s pledge to repeal it, many are concerned they’ll be out coverage.
Tens of thousands of people in Ohio have insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
“We’re hearing all sorts of things,” said insurance agent, Roni Bell.
Bell has a ton of clients who get health insurance from Obamacare.
“People are concerned that their insurance is going to end right away and they’re not going to have it because of a preexisting condition,” she said.
It was a key campaign promise of soon to be President Donald Trump, to repeal Obamacare in full.
But for millions of Americans, many in Ohio, in the midst of open-enrollment, that promise raises fears they’ll be kicked off their health insurance.
“There’s been no changes, come in, talk to us, you still need to sign up for a plan. At Health Markets we can help you through finding that plan,” said Bell.
No need to fear. If you have Obamacare, enroll as you would for 2017.
“That would be my expectation, that there would not be January 1 switch, that everything is in effect as it was on Monday,” said Bell.
“The insurance companies, through statutes, must supply discounted insurance policies,” said Sara Schiavoni, a Political Science Professor at John Carroll University in Cleveland.
Experts say in fact, you’ll likely have Obamacare through 2017, if not for years to come. It will take a long time for President Elect Trump to repeal it.
For one, there’s not a large enough republican majority in the senate to pass an outright repeal. 60 votes are needed for repeal and currently, republicans only have 51 votes. Secondly, there are aspects of the law that all sides agree are beneficial, for instance, the ability for a son or daughter to stay on a parents’ health insurance plan, until they’re 26 years old. Another benefit is not restricting coverage because of pre-existing conditions.
“Nobody needs to be concerned that on January 20th when President Elect Trump takes office, that they will lose their policies,” said Schiavoni.
A concern that is definitely being felt in Cleveland where the medical industry is a huge employer is how an Obamacare repeal would affect hospitals. It’s something the Cleveland Clinic and many others will be watching closely.
