J. Scott Applewhite / AP
A group of Senate Democrats held a news conference at the Capitol alongside influencers and doctors Wednesday to highlight health care issues, which the party has put front and center amid the shutdown.
The influencers and physicians warned about the consequences of what happens when people lose access to healthcare. One of the speakers, Dr. Anita Patel, said when health care costs become too high for families, things like “like-saving epipens do not get refilled, a child sinus infection turns into meningitis and a ruptured [appendix] leads to septic shock from delayed care in medicine.”
“I have seen firsthand what happens when children lose access to health care,” said Patel, a pediatrician. “I have intubated teenagers in diabetic comas because they had to ration their insulin that their families could not afford. I have battled uncontrolled seizures in the ICU, which can cause permanent brain damage, because parents had to choose between their child’s seizure medications and paying their rent.”
Senate Democrats have been pushing for an extension of health insurance tax credits in exchange for their support to reopen the government. But Republican leaders have maintained that they will not negotiate on the issue until Democrats allow them to reopen the government. The issue has come to a head in recent days, with open enrollment for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act beginning on Nov. 1. Though the tax credits are set to sunset at the end of the year, increased premiums are expected to appear during the open enrollment period.
Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, said “there are painful days ahead for Americans who are already enduring the leadership of this administration.”
“This is an American problem of the Republicans’ making and we’re demanding that they do something about the pain and the hurt that American families are experiencing and the fear as they look at their health care costs,” Booker said.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, said Republicans “would rather shut down the government than have to address this health care crisis and try to make health care more affordable for Americans.”
“Democrats are showing up, and we are here to fight for the American people who just want access to get the care they need,” Warren said.
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