Health care law is about choices

Health care law is about choices

Enough! The theatrics on display by Republican representatives and senators ignore the value of the Affordable Care Act. The president had it right in his State of the Union address — let’s correct what needs to be corrected but, for goodness sake, move on.

Here is why. The Affordable Care Act provides Americans with more freedom and control in their health care choices. It gives families freedom from worrying about losing their insurance or having it capped unexpectedly if someone is in an accident or becomes sick. It frees Americans from the fear of insurance companies raising premiums by double digits with no recourse or accountability. It frees Americans from discrimination when insurance companies deny women health insurance because they are pregnant, or refuse to provide coverage to children who are born with disabilities. It provides parents the choice of providing health coverage for a child after he or she finishes school. It provides people the freedom to change jobs without worrying about losing one’s health insurance, or even retire a little earlier without having to worry about losing one’s coverage. It provides seniors with the freedom to get the care they need, including free preventive care, lower-cost prescription drugs and Medicare that they can count on.

But Republicans in Congress want to unravel the law that holds insurance companies in check, allowing insurance companies to once again deny coverage to children with existing conditions, cancel coverage when people get sick, and limit the amount of care you can get-even if you need it. And, by rolling back the Affordable Care Act, Republicans are adding a trillion dollars to the deficit.

It is time to focus on economic issues. Move forward.

Roger Roeing

Schaumburg