LEWISTON, Maine - At a press conference in Portland today, consumers expressed alarm about losing health coverage if President-Elect Donald Trump follows through on his promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Katie McDonald is a graduate student at the University of Southern Maine who currently has a marketplace plan. As she prepares to graduate in three semesters, she says she faces many uncertainties.
"Will I be able to find a job in Maine? will I be able to buy a new car? Will I be able to buy a new house? The one question I didn't think I would ever have to consider, is will I have health insurance?" McDonald says.
McDonald says her insurance coverage has helped her overcome the emotional trauma of a sexual assault and pursue a career.
Physician Chuck Radis says he witnessed firsthand how the ACA helped patients emerge from health and financial devastation once they could obtain insurance coverage.
"If it weren't for the ACA, these patients of mine would still be among the 44 million Americans who were without insurance prior to 2010," Radis said.
Radis and others at the event urged Congress to improve the Affordable Care Act, rather than repeal and replace it.
