CHICAGO-As Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans try to resuscitate their efforts to kill the Affordable Care Act ( ACA ) in order to give billions in tax breaks to wealthy households, insurance companies and drug manufacturers, 1.3 million Illinoisans are at risk of losing insurance coverage. A coalition of groups are planning a statewide day of action Tuesday, April 18th, seeking pledges ( see below ) from members of the Illinois Congressional delegation AND Gov. Bruce Rauner that they will preserve essential coverage and NOT slash Medicaid or remove the essential benefits of the ACA, including coverage for preexisting conditions and maternity care.
The coalition seeking to preserve the essential coverage of the Affordable Care Act from the repeal effort includes Citizen Action/Illinois, Indivisible Illinois, Action for a Better Tomorrow, Illinois Alliance of Retired Americans and SEIU Healthcare Illinois, among others.
Rauner has remained all but silent on ACA repeal attempts as well as the move to destroy Medicaid through "block grants," but his administration has embarked on its own $120 million cut to senior care in the Community Care Program.
Pledge events were scheduled to take place outside of district offices in Carbondale ( Rep. Mike Bost ); Springfield ( Rep. Darin LaHood ); Compton Hills ( Rep. Randy Hultgren ); and Rockford ( Rep. Adam Kinzinger ).
And in Chicago, Rep. Robin Kelly will participate in an evening teach-in to explain the ACA and the threat to healthcare to members of SEIU Healthcare Illinois.
Following are the events for the day of action:
1. DOWNER'S GROVE ( Rep. Peter Roskam's District )
WHAT: Pledge Event to Save Healthcare for Rep. Peter Roskam.
WHEN: 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 18th.
WHERE: Near bus stop, In front of Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, 3815 Highland Ave., Downers Grove.
WHO: Health care advocates.
2. CARBONDALE ( Rep. Mike Bost's District )
WHAT: Pledge Event to Save Healthcare for Rep. Mike Bost.
WHEN: 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 18th.
WHERE: In front of Rep. Mike Bost's office, 300 E. Main St., Carbondale.
WHO; Health care advocates.
3. SPRINGFIELD ( Rep. Darin LaHood's District )
WHAT: Pledge Event to Save Healthcare for Reps. LaHood, Rodney Davis and John Shimkus
WHEN: 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 18th.
WHERE: In front of Rep. Darin LaHood's office, 235 S. 6th St., Springfield.
WHO: Health care advocates.
4. CAMPTON HILLS ( Rep. Randy Hultgren )
WHAT: Pledge Event to Save Healthcare for Rep. Randy Hultgren
WHEN: 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 18th.
WHERE: In front of Rep. Randy Hultgren's office, 40W310 Lafox Road, Campton Hills.
WHO: Health care advocates.
5. ROCKFORD ( Rep. Adam Kinzinger )
WHAT: Pledge Event to Save Healthcare for Rep. Adam Kinzinger
WHEN: 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 18th.
WHERE: In front of Rep. Adam Kinzinger's office, 725 N. Lyford Road.
WHO: Health care advocates.
6. CHICAGO ( Rep. Robin Kelly )
WHAT: Teach-In on the Affordable Care Act
WHEN: 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 18th.
WHERE: SEIU Healthcare Illinois headquarters, 2229 S. Halsted St., Chicago.
WHO: Rep. Robin Kelly, SEIU Healthcare Illinois workers.
THE PLEDGE TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH CARE
I pledge to prioritize the health and lives of Illinoisans. I will OPPOSE any plan that:
1. Finances tax cuts for the wealthy through cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, or the ACA;
2. Increases out of pocket costs ( e.g., premiums, deductibles ) for health care coverage ( especially for older adults );
3. Allows discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions, including placing them in high risk pools;
4. Removes the guarantee of Essential Health Benefits in private and Medicaid plans;
5. Allows insurers to practice discriminatory pricing by charging women more than men and the sick more than the healthy;
6. Substitutes Health Savings Accounts ( HSAs ) for comprehensive health insurance;
7. Decreases the overall number of individuals who have health coverage;
8. Enables insurance companies to impose annual and lifetime limits;
9. Cuts Medicaid funding through a block grant or per capita cap;
10. Privatizes Medicare.
