ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — People gathered outside the Orlando office of Sen. Marco Rubio Tuesday to rally against President Donald Trump’s plan to repeal or replace former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Healthcare Act.
The senator is in Washington, D.C., but demonstrators told Channel 9's Cierra Putman they want to make sure he hears their concerns.
“I need my healthcare. I need healthcare,” the demonstrator said.
Rubio has voted earlier this month to repeal Obamacare.
Rubio’s regional director received letters from protestors calling on Rubio to not take further action on the Affordable Healthcare Act.
A registered Republican told Eyewitness News that she fears the senator won’t see the letters.
“I'm afraid when he does get them, they will throw it in the garbage or stick it in the bathroom because he doesn't seem to care," said the demonstrator.
“Ma’am, we do care,” said Rubio’s regional director.
Marshall Stern said he didn’t vote for Rubio last November, but he needs his healthcare.
"I'm risking my life to be here,” Stern said.
Stearn had a heart transplant in May.
"Are you afraid if they replace it you're not going to get coverage?” Putman asked.
“What's afraid? It's a fact. What insurance company on its own is going to want to insure somebody, from the get-go that they have to put out $100,000 a year?” Stearn said.
The demonstration quickly turned to the recent executive order that puts a temporary ban on people from seven countries from entering the U.S.
"No ban, no wall, this regime has got to fall," the demonstrators chanted.
"Tell him to listen to the Hispanics. We voted for him, we expect him to listen to all immigrants,” one demonstrator said.
“ObamaCare has led to rising premiums, a collapse of the individual insurance market and fewer choices for patients. The law is an absolute failure and its proponents insist it must be salvaged with a taxpayer-funded bailout of health insurance companies. We've now taken an important first step to repeal this law and replace it with a patient-centered approach that expands access to providers and lowers costs of care. It is my hope and expectation that the transition to a replacement program can be done relatively seamlessly and minimize disruptions to patients.”
Cox Media Group
