Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was implemented 10 years ago, 217,000 Mainers have gained health care coverage. I was one of them.I previously had military health insurance, then university student coverage, but in 2014 the ACA helped my family avoid falling into an abyss. During the two-month interval between finishing my family medicine training here in Maine and the start date of my employer-based coverage, my wife, Tracy, felt a lump and was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Anyone who has been there understands the terror that follows. That first year of surgery and chemotherapy was profoundly difficult and frightening for our family, especially for our school-age daughters.
In weekly support groups, we connected with and listened to other southern Maine families confronting various life-threatening illnesses in children and parents. Our conversations would sometimes take my breath away because everyone was facing such dreadful things. A common topic in our discussions was how the anxiety of potential financial ruin intensified the fear of the diseases themselves.
During that turbulent time, the ACA offered us a lifeline. It helped us obtain crucial coverage for prompt evaluation and treatment, and it also shielded us from subsequent “preexisting condition” insurance discrimination. These ACA protections are vital for so many Maine families.
Yet, despite the ACA’s standing as the law of the land, the battle for affordable and accessible health care is far from over.
Donald Trump’s threats to “terminate” the ACA are alarming and should concern every Mainer. On his first day in office in 2017, he issued an executive order for the “prompt repeal of the Affordable Care Act.” And just a few weeks ago on the debate stage, he said he was “looking at” plans to get rid of it.
Trump’s intended repeal of ACA protections could strip away health insurance from hundreds of thousands of Mainers and allow insurance companies to deny coverage for the preexisting conditions so many of us have.
Kamala Harris offers a vision that prioritizes health care access and affordability. As vice president, she’s worked to reduce prescription drug costs for nearly 375,000 Mainers, cap insulin at $35/month for seniors, and allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices.
And when we elect her to the presidency, she will continue fighting to protect our health care, lower drug costs even more and strengthen the ACA and Medicare. These federal programs work closely with Maine’s programs. We’ve seen on the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee how they benefit the people I serve, and people across the state.
To keep health-related fear and uncertainty from overwhelming our families and communities, we also have to look down-ballot. State leaders should strengthen and expand these vital health care protections to help ensure every Mainer has access to the care they need.
This election is not just about choosing leaders; it’s about choosing a future where health care is recognized as a right, not a privilege. We need legislators who will work with the Mills administration and the federal government to address social determinants of health, like housing and education and a sense of human connection.
Maine’s leaders must also work for comprehensive coverage, affordable medications, accessible primary care and mental health services, and sustainable health infrastructure.
Maine ballots for this election are already returning from military bases overseas. With this election already underway, let’s come together to shape the conversation around health care and make it a priority for every candidate.
Together, we can make a real difference for our health and our future.
Zager, S. (2024) ‘Opinion: The battle for affordable, accessible health care is far from over’, Portland Press Herald, October 3. Available at https://www.pressherald.com/2024/10/03/opinion-the-battle-for-affordable-accessible-health-care-is-far-from-over/ (Accessed: November 6, 2024)
