FAIRFAX, Va. — Some people with disabilities are concerned about the possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act now that President Trump has renewed his fight against Obamacare.
The Department of Justice filed in federal court Monday, asking judges to uphold the district court ruling in Texas that said the ACA was unconstitutional.
Laura Halvorson, a disability rights advocate, says that could be catastrophic for folks like her with disabilities.
Laura has muscular dystrophy.
“I was diagnosed about 20 years ago. Back then, I was still walking, breathing on my own, things like that. And it was just progressing, little by little," she said.
Up until 2016, she got her healthcare from her teaching job.
However, that expired right when she needed to start wearing her ventilator daily.
She says luckily, that's exactly when the Affordable Care Act was signed into law.
“Thanks to the ACA, I get coverage of my ventilator, my wheelchair, things like that. I also have personal care attendants that help me get out of bed every morning and do care, so I can go out into the community," said Laura.
If the ACA is repealed, she says she'd have to look to Medicaid, and her income is too high to qualify.
"With all my medical costs, I wouldn’t be able to afford rent, so I’d have to go into a nursing home to receive long-term care. And you know at 35 years old, you don’t want to go into a nursing home," said Laura.
She also wouldn't be able to take her service dog, Houston, with her.
She's mostly afraid about her friends who wouldn't be able to afford care at all without the ACA.
"So a lot of people could literally die from not having coverage, and that’s what’s so scary," she said.
That's why Laura spends her days contacting representatives from home or heading over to Capitol Hill to advocate.
"I don’t’ want to just sit back. I want to fight even though it does take quite a toll on me to go to Capitol Hill and advocate, but I feel like I don’t have a choice," said Laura.