Protestors: 'Stop Trying to Repeal Affordable Care Act'

About a dozen people came to Rep. Judy Biggert's office Thursday to protest her vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, .

The demonstrators carried signs and stood outside Biggert's office alongside Kingery Highway. Some of them stood underneath a large banner that read "Honk To Save Medicare."

The protesters felt strongly that the Act, a.k.a. Obamacare, should remain in place because of the numerous benefits they say it provides for struggling families.

"Stop trying to undo the beginning [of universal health care,] and start working on the future ... rather than waste time trying to get back to ground zero," said Reverend Dr. Thom Parrott-Sheffer, a resident. Parrott-Sheffer is an associate minister at the Union Church of Hinsdale.

Parrott-Sheffer said he joined the effort to support Obamacare, because he has seen so many people struggle to make health care decisions for themselves.

"A woman in my church said it was a choice for her whether to eat or pay for her medication," Parrott-Sheffer said.

Supporters of the new law lined up in Biggert's office to tell staffers how the Affordable Care Act has personally benefited them.

"My granddaughter was born in February of 2010," said Kim Johnson, a Downers Grove resident. "She was born about one month premature. Nothing else was wrong. She was denied health insurance, because of the pre-existing condition of being born premature. As of July 2010, she was covered under the Affordable Care Act."

Effective August 2012, women's preventative health care services—such as mammograms, screenings for cervical cancer and prenatal care—will be covered without cost sharing in new health plans. That's very important to Siobhan Burke, an Aurora resident and part-time teacher.

"If the [Affordable Care Act] is repealed, that won't be available, and that will impact women who don't have insurance like myself," Burke said.

In response to Patch's questions about why Biggert continues to pursue repealing the Affordable Care Act, and what she would do to address this country's health care issues, Representative Biggert's office sent the following in an emailed statement:

"Whether it’s dropped coverage, higher costs, or lost jobs—the unintended consequences of the Administration’s 2010 health law continue to add up. Many small businesses have stopped hiring, or are considering dropping the coverage they offer today.  Congresswoman Biggert supports maintaining coverage for pre-existing conditions and young adults, but she is committed to ending government policies that continue to drive up costs."

To find out more about the Affordable Care Act, click here.