According to a new West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy (WVCBP) report, repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) would have far-reaching effects in the Mountain State.
“Repealing the ACA: Hurting Our Health and Our Economy,” released Tuesday, says not only 184,000 West Virginians would lose health insurance, but the state’s weak economy could falter with the loss of billions of dollars of federal funds.
An estimated 16,000 jobs would be lost by 2019 and nearly $350 million would be lost in tax revenue over five years. The Urban Institute estimates West Virginia would lose $14 billion in federal funds between 2019-2028, including $12 billion supporting Medicaid/CHIP...
“The ACA is much more than a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of West Virginians who have gained health coverage and important patient protections,” said WVCBP Executive Director Ted Boettner, who authored the report. “It has been a billion dollar investment in our people that has lead to thousands of new jobs during a time when our state’s communities are struggling.”...
Proponents of the ACA have also feared loss of coverage for young adults under 26 still on their parents’ plans...Julie Vaughan-Meadors, of Charles Town, and her oldest son, Zachary, are hoping those senators make good on their promise to keep protections in place...
Zachary was 23 years old when he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer... now 26 years old, fears he will not be able to utilize the final months of his health coverage under his parents’ plan if the ACA is repealed.
Zachary will graduate from California State University in May with his degree in sociology. He has applied, and anticipates he will be hired, at a job in West Virginia.
“He’s scared out of his mind,” Vaughan-Meadors said...
Since the ACA was enacted, West Virginia’s uninsured population dropped from 14 percent in 2013 to 6 percent in 2016 — the lowest it has ever been.
West Virginia to be second most affected state with ACA repeal