The News Leader

Updated 3/17 by the writer due to a factual problem with the number of people additional people who would lose insurance by 2026.

In January, President Trump said he wanted a "better health care plan for more people at a lesser cost." Since I am a nurse and health educator, I was heartened by his words. But the American Health Care Act, unveiled last week by Paul Ryan and now endorsed by the president, makes a mockery of his January statement. This GOP plan is not the plan President Trump promised and it is not the plan we want for America.

The Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan analyst of proposed legislation, estimates that 14 million people who are currently insured through Obamacare would be without health insurance in 2018 if this GOP plan passes. And another 10 million would be uninsured by 2026.

Many would be hit hard by this plan but those in worst shape would be the 50- to 64-year-olds. The Congressional Budget reports that a 64-year-old who makes $26,500 would face a 700-percent jump in the cost of premiums, from $1,700 under Obamacare to a whopping $14,000. AARP's analysis of the GOP plan comes up with similar numbers.

There are other reasons to be horrified by the GOP health care plan, but at the top of this other list is: It gives hundreds of billions in tax breaks to the wealthy.

No matter if you voted for Clinton or Trump, if you oppose this GOP plan, you are in good company. Others who oppose and are also interested in a sound and fair plan for our nation include the American Medical Association, American Nurses Association, American College of Physicians, National Nurses United, National Physicians Alliance, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons and American Academy of Pediatrics.

Paul Ryan's AHCA plan falls dreadfully short of President Trump's promise. We need to stop Ryan's plan before it gets to the president's desk for signature on the 29th of March. Please email, call or write both President Trump and Rep. Bob Goodlatte through their official government sites and tell them in loud language that the American Health Care Act is NOT the plan we want for America.

FRAN FEVRIER

Raphine