More than 50 people worried about the potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act gathered in Sterling Wednesday to bring their grievances to Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-Va.-10th).

Carrying placards and chanting "No repeal without a plan," the protesters met with Comstock's district director, Lucy Norment, at the congresswoman's office just off Route 7.

The meeting was organized by a new citizen group, Indivisible Lovettsville 20180, named for the founders from the small town in northwestern Loudoun.

A letter addressed to Comstock was passed on the media. It referred to the second-term congresswoman's decision to vote for draft legislation that would allow for repeal with 50 votes in the Senate, rather than 60.

Such an action is "not only disheartening but also irresponsible," the letter noted.

Five speakers shared stories with Norment about how their lives had been positively impacted by the Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare.

One was Lovettsville resident Erica Reck, who spoke emotionally about her 10-year-old daughter, Eden. Eden has an unknown variant of Glycogen Storage Disease Type O, which means she has to eat every few hours or she could have a seizure, potentially leading to death.

The 10 year old has been hospitalized more than 40 times, her mom said.

"We do not know what the future holds for Eden," Erica Reck said. "If she can't work full time, she will never be able to get medical insurance. Even if she is able to work, she has a very expensive pre-existing medical condition which medical insurance companies will refuse to cover unless the current ACA law is kept intact."

A pre-prepared letter from Comstock was handed out to those gathered. "I would like to assure you I hear your concerns and will work with my colleagues to enact policy that will allow for a wider choice of health care plan," it read.

The letter continued, "The current health insurance system is not working for millions of individuals, families and small businesses who have seen their premiums skyrocket - after they were told they would decrease, and deductibles increase so that people can't afford to use their plans."

Speaking afterward, Indivisible 's Kris Consaul, who led the meeting, said more people attended than she had anticipated.

"We want to put pressure on Comstock to provide us with plans and detail before going further down the line of repeal," Consaul said.

Talking about next steps, Consaul said she would welcome a face-to-face meeting with the congresswoman, something she plans to request. She went on to explain how the citizen group, which formed earlier this month, would continue to apply pressure until they got answers as to what the alternative to the Affordable Care Act will be.

Read Comstock's letter regarding the Affordable Care Act below:

Thank you for contacting me concerning the Affordable Care Act, also referred to as Obamacare. It is important to remember, the passage of the budget resolution is only the beginning of reform and transition to a patient-centered healthcare system for the American people that is more affordable, portable, flexible, and provides more choices for individuals and families.

We are all faced with challenges with our health care needs. Cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's and other health care challenges face us all and our family and friends. That is why we need affordable insurance that will be there when we need it. I look at these issues through the eyes of a daughter with parents who live with us, as well as a mother and a grandmother who understands the changing health care needs over a lifetime.

I would like to assure you I hear your concerns and will work with my colleagues to enact policy that will allow for a wider choice of health care plans that include coverage for those who have preexisting conditions and allow young adults to stay on their parent's plans until age 26 while encouraging health care innovation and more choice and control in the hands of patients. Our healthcare sector is complex and we are working carefully and thoughtfully on how we can best improve it.

Our current path under the ACA is flawed and ultimately unsustainable, which is why the Obama administration along with Congress had delayed multiple provisions that would harm patients and hardworking taxpayers if implemented. Even despite these efforts, exchanges across the country have collapsed costing hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, while many major insurers have left the exchanges where many consumers now find few choices.

The current health insurance system is not working for millions of individuals, families, and small businesses who have seen their premiums skyrocket - after they were told they would decrease, and deductibles increase so that people often can't afford to use their plans. Experts have reported that consumers in one-third of the country are forced to buy from a single Obamacare insurer. That's not choice - that's a monopoly. And fines and penalties face those who can't afford these more expensive plans, as well as twenty-one different health care taxes including the medical device tax, the so-called Cadillac Tax, and the individual mandate.

We now have the opportunity to implement a more patient oriented system, provide a smooth transition, and deliver the portable, affordable care all Americans deserve. Please be assured I will keep your thoughts in mind moving forward as this national discussion continues so that we can achieve a better result.

Thank you again for contacting me. It is a privilege to serve you in the Tenth District. I may also be contacted at my Sterling office at 703-404-6903, or my Washington, D.C. office at 202-225-5136. By visiting http://comstock.house.gov, you can sign up to receive my email newsletters and follow my efforts to serve you. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter for real-time updates on my activities in Congress and in the District. If I may ever be of service, please do not hesitate to contact me.

(0) comments

Welcome to the discussion.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.

Thank you for reading!

Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue.