A Florida lawmaker rallied support for health care as a human right Saturday evening.
- Rep. Soto held a town hall meeting in Kissimmee on health care
- Included background on the law, and what comes next
- RELATED: Find an event with your representative
U.S. Representative Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, hosted an Affordable Care Act Town Hall in Kissimmee.
The congressman spoke about what he called a health care crisis facing the country and detailed the basics of the Affordable Care Act.
“We are here to discuss the positives, the negatives, just general commentary about healthcare because we want to know what you all think,” he told the crowd.
Republicans are pushing for an Obamacare repeal. There is division over which parts to get rid of and which to keep.
Republicans released an outline of a plan last week. The plan would give people tax credits to buy insurance, expands the use of health savings accounts and cuts back on Medicaid. It also would expand high-risk pools.
Congressman Soto has expressed a repeal would devastate families who depend on it. In Florida, 1.8 million have signed up for the ACA, the highest enrollment in the nation. The Central Florida area was the second market in the state for sign-ups.
People who attended the Kissimme event had the chance to show support and express concerns about the plan.
“It was just wonderful, the fact that these kids were not treated," said one attendee. "Then could say I have the ACA. Now I can get back on my mom’s insurance, this is wonderful.”
“The ACA forces us to buy insurance through private companies that their main profit is motive. There shouldn’t be a profit motive for health care,” said another attendee who was against the Affordable Care Act.
Similar town halls have been held around the country, giving people a chance to voice their opinions.
Soto has said he is willing to work with Republicans on a better health care plan, but repealing ACA without a replacement would be a disaster.