As Republicans get closer to repealing the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare without a replacement plan in place, some San Diegans worry for their own health coverage.
A new study by the Congressional Budget Office, a non-partisan group, showed that without Obamacare, 18 million people could lose coverage in one year. That number could increase to 32 million people in a decade and insurance premiums may also double.
NBC 7 spoke to Cynthia Provenzano who told us she suffers from chronic pain and is currently covered under Obamacare.
“I’ve had chronic pain for the last 17 years and I can't really work,” she said.
Like many who use Obamacare, Provenzano said she worries about paying for treatment if it is repealed, since she sees a doctor about once a week.
John Lethin, with Community Health Imaging Centers said getting rid of Obamacare without a replacement would be a disaster.
“These people need the services,” he said.
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But he added that there is room for improvement.
“It's not a perfect system. I have seen and I have heard about the increase in the premiums. They sign on and it’s very affordable and a year later these rates are astronomical,” Lethin said.
Others also worried about how the repeal will affect insurance companies or coverage for patients with pre-existing conditions.
Republicans said they plan to keep that provision so no one with a pre-existing condition can be denied insurance.
“The system needs to be refined ,” Lethin said. “Hopefully the can find something that's going to work for everyone.”
Republicans have already taken the first steps in the process to repeal Obamacare but they have not yet introduced a replacement plan.
