MONTICELLO, NY — A town hall meeting on healthcare was held at the Ted Stroebele Center in Monticello on April 30. The meeting served as a forum for concerned citizens to discuss pending legislation.

About 50 residents attended the meeting, sponsored by the Senior Legislative Action Committee and the NAACP, to voice their concerns regarding healthcare issues in the United States, and more specifically in Sullivan County.

“I know you wouldn’t be here today if you didn’t have concerns,” said the moderator of the meeting.

It has been seven years since the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) was signed into law by President Barack Obama, insuring more than 20 million more people than would otherwise have been covered to date. Despite the record 6.4 million people that enrolled for coverage this year alone, the bill has been criticized.

One of Obamacare’s staunchest critics, President Donald Trump, has not been shy in expressing his disapproval of Obamacare. Trump’s proposed American Health Care Act passed the House by a vote of 217 to 213 on May 4. If approved by the Senate, it will replace several key aspects of Obamacare with new provisions.

Sullivan County locals were outspoken regarding the healthcare agenda in the U.S. According to Kathie Aberman, open forums are needed to create dialogue and work toward implementing change.

“Town halls are critically important to hear how people are thinking and feeling,” said Aberman, a member of We are One-Sullivan.

The meeting featured mostly middle-aged and elderly individuals, representing the demographic that stands to lose the most if Obamacare is ultimately repealed by the Senate. Elderly citizens could face massive increases in premiums, as insurance companies would be allowed to charge them five times as much as the youngest cohort of the population, rather than the limit of three times as much set by Obamacare.

In addition, over 74 million are currently enrolled in Medicaid, according to Medicaid.gov. If the AHCA is passed, Medicaid expansion would be eliminated by 2020.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, upward of 24 million more Americans will be without health insurance under the AHCA, 2.7 million of whom would be New Yorkers.

Under the AHCA, any state can apply for waivers to opt out of some of Obamacare’s protections.

Coverage under Trumpcare legislation would be limited as well. States could allow insurers to sell plans without essential health benefits such as maternity, mental health and substance abuse. Tax breaks would be given to the wealthiest Americans while insurance premium rates would increase for many residents. States could also allow carriers to set premiums based on an individual’s medical history.

Sullivan is one of the 62 counties in New York that is faced with a daunting reality in regards to heath care. According to some locals, poverty is one of the largest issues that the county endures.

“One of the reasons we have such low health-care outcomes in Sullivan County is because of our poverty level,” said Judy Balaban, a citizen of Sullivan County.

As for solutions, Balaban suggested more community-based follow-up and universal healthcare. Others have emphasized to locals the importance of registering to vote.

“Our only hope to have a shared democracy is to vote for more Democrats,” said Aberman.

The New York Health Act, which would provide single-payer universal healthcare for all New York State residents, was a key topic discussed in the meeting.

“We need a mandate for people to have healthcare because that’s the only way it’s affordable,” said Balaban.

Under the proposed bill, all New York residents would be eligible to enroll, regard less of age, income, race, or immigration status.

The legislation promises to eliminate deductibles and co-pays, and payment would be based on an individual’s ability to pay. It would eliminate health insurance companies.

Several government officials were invited to attend and participate in the town hall discussion, including Congressman John Faso. A makeshift doll with “No-Show Faso” was placed in an empty seat next to the organizers of the town hall meeting.

Locals were not hesitant in illustrating their displeasure with Faso’s absence.

“It’s infuriating that he refuses to meet with people,” said Aberman. “He’s afraid, I’m not sure what he’s afraid of. People are upset and want him to know how they feel.”