Millions of Americans are relying on us

Donald Trump's penchant for lies and grandiose claims of what he's got in mind for a second term are making headlines again. As much as I wanted this era of American government to be a thing of the past, we have to talk about the approach he and his followers in Congress want to take toward our health care.

While they have always worked to drag health care backward — back to an era of soaring corporate profits, denial of coverage, skyrocketing prices for life-saving drugs, and of course their own dogmatic whims interfering with your reproductive health care options – now, they're ramping up a crusade to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The ACA has made a tremendous impact for individuals and working families across the country. Consider these provisions:

• Increased Access to Health Insurance: allowed individuals to purchase insurance through state-based exchanges and expanded Medicaid eligibility in many states, providing coverage to low-income adults and newly insuring millions of Americans. It also provided cost assistance for folks and allowed young adults to stay on a parent's insurance plan until age 26 — making sure that individuals struggling to cover costs didn't have to do without access to care.

• Protection for Pre-existing Conditions: prohibited insurance companies from denying coverage, charging higher premiums, or discriminating against patients based on pre-existing conditions.

• Essential Health Benefits: mandated that health insurance plans cover essential health benefits such as preventive services, maternity care, mental health services, prescription drugs, and more.

Sounds like a pretty good plan to me.

And sure, the MAGA Republicans' distaste for affordable, quality care for their constituents isn't exactly news. They've already wielded tactics ranging from propaganda, bad legislation, and even maneuvers within the Supreme Court — all without a viable plan for replacement or improvements.

But we're at an inflection point going into 2024, and they've made their intentions clear.

The potential of Trump 2.0 and continued Republican dominance in the House could plunge our nation into a perilous health policy dark age — a move that will cost lives. Will you make a contribution today and help take back the House and ensure the ACA can withstand any attacks?

Together, we'll stand firm, against these threats to our health care. The fight for a better, fairer health care system—one that truly serves the people — starts with us.

Jim