Ann Miners: Nurse wonders why anyone opposes Obamacare
As a registered nurse working at a hospital in the 1990s, my job was to review the admissions coming from the Emergency Room. I was extremely surprised how many people died unnecessarily because they went to the ER instead of going to a doctor before becoming so extremely ill.
The main reason for this seemed to be that they did not have a doctor or could not afford to go see one or both. It was heart-breaking to read their stories and realize they could have easily been saved. When Obamacare was introduced, it made me and many others very happy. It was great to see so many have access to health care before it was too late.
Many untruths are being spread about Obamacare, the most ridiculous is that it increases the federal deficit. The truth, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, is that repealing the Affordable Care Act would increase the deficit by at least $137 billion over the next 10 years. It would also increase the number of people without insurance by 19 million next year.
For all these reasons, why would anyone oppose Obamacare?
Ann Miners, Oakdale
This story was originally published December 28, 2015 at 4:36 PM with the headline "Ann Miners: Nurse wonders why anyone opposes Obamacare."