CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Healthcare is a necessity but there is a chance this need could be more expensive for thousands across the state.
Premiums could double for some people in Northeast Ohio.
“Disastrous, expensive and malicious ones block my rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I am infuriated,” said Aimee Lee.
Lee cried at the thought of losing healthcare. Beefed-up premium subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year amid a government shutdown.
19 News spoke with the Lyndhurst woman moments after a press conference calling to keep the current Affordable Care Act and Medicaid.
She said she is one of more than 40,000 across Northeast Ohio that could lose or not afford access to healthcare.
“If you can’t pay for healthcare and you have diabetes that means you can’t get insulin. That means you can go into a coma. That means you can die,” said Dr. Arthur Lavin.
Doctors gave real-life examples of how this affects patients. Cuyahoga County and state leaders, including Congresswoman Shontel Brown, spoke on what she calls a possible “healthcare crisis.”
“A family of four is going to see their premiums jump from $2,400 a year to $4,800 a year,” Brown said. “This money people do not have.”
Back in 2021, Congress enhanced premium tax credits for some Americans, as part of a COVID relief plan.
This made it possible for low-income families to get coverage with no or low monthly costs.
It also widened the eligibility for assistance to the middle class. Brown and Lee are fighting to keep it that way.
“Affordable and accessible health care keeps us healthy,” said Lee.
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