Open Letter To Donald Trump: Don’t Be An A**hole – Repealing The ACA Will KILL People (VIDEO/TWEETS)

This was originally published on Liberal America on September 6.

To Donald Trump and the GOP:

Ever since President Barack Obama passed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, you guys have been wanting to repeal it. Yes, it may not be perfect, but it has helped millions of people get insurance. We really need socialized medicine, but you guys don’t like that.
Your party seems to think that healthcare should run like a business. The problem with that is that it hurts individual people. The recent EpiPen price hike shows this; thousands of people with allergies may not be able to afford this life-saving medicine.
Your party is also wanting to bring back the pre-existing condition restrictions. This affects millions of people who have chronic illnesses. We did not ask for these diseases; we can’t control them. Shouldn’t we have a right to live? The Declaration of Independence says we have the right to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Does that not apply to everyone or does it only apply to people with money?

#ilikehillary for continuing to defend & expand the Affordable Care Act, which covers 20 million people #ImWithHer pic.twitter.com/efzMiaqNUx

— Lori (@SVUtime) September 4, 2016

The Republican platform says we need more competition with health insurance. They mention cost-awareness and over-utilization. Yes, they think some people are using their health benefits “too” much. They emphasize “choice,” which means that you will have to shop for rates before going to the doctor. There isn’t any mention of making healthcare easier and cheaper.

Election 2016: Health Care and the Affordable Care Act https://t.co/aOfD9PL8FK pic.twitter.com/Eieb3VXbey

— GoHealthInsurance (@GoHealthDotCom) August 29, 2016

Mental Health And The ACAI have schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. I can’t function without my cocktail of medicine. I will have this and will be on medicine for the rest of my life. I am able to afford health insurance and my medicine because of the ACA.
For those of you thinking I should be able to pay for my medicine on my own, let me show you how much they cost:

• My main drug (which doesn’t have a generic): $952.52 per month
• $36 per month
• $65.26 per month
• $122.49 per month

This doesn’t include therapy and doctor’s visits. How is anyone supposed to afford this? Should we be punished for having chronic conditions? Without these medicines, I can’t regulate my symptoms. I can’t work or function with this illness without medication. My quality of life will plummet. I won’t remember much of anything. I will get debilitating anxiety and depression and paranoia.
One out of five adults have mental health problems in a given year. We deserve to have access to healthcare just like everyone else. It is not a choice or a character flaw; we are sick.
Mr. Trump: Do you think about these things when you say you want preexisting condition restrictions back? Should people have to struggle with mental illnesses just so you can make a little more money?
Acknowledging mental health care would be a start for the GOP. Hillary Clinton has an entire plan to help people with mental health issues.
The Trump website says this about mental health care:
“Finally, we need to reform our mental health programs and institutions in this country. Families, without the ability to get the information needed to help those who are ailing, are too often not given the tools to help their loved ones. There are promising reforms being developed in Congress that should receive bi-partisan support.”

Repealing the Affordable Care Act would cause many people to lose their insurance. No one should have to risk bankruptcy just because they are sick.
Here are The Young Turks talking about Trump’s healthcare plans: