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Florida Healthcare Advocates Demand Sen. Rubio's Attention

Activists called on Sen. Marco Rubio to speak publicly on health care and address the concerns of his constituents.

Tuesday morning, Florida Voices for Health, For Florida’s Future and Planned Parenthood, along with several local residents, called a press conference to share their concerns on the proposed health care plan supported  by the Trump administration.

Protesters gathered outside the office of Sen. Rubio in Doral, demanding that he vote against any bill that increases the number of uninsured and eliminates protections for people with pre-existing conditions. They worry the low-premium coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will be collateral in the current Republican plan that is supported by President Trump. 

June Barrett, a Miami resident with multiple pre-existing conditions, begged Sen. Rubio to listen to her fears and concerns.

“You work for me sir, for all of us, for the community. And if you plan to replace, sir, let it work for people like me, a low-income earner, a woman that works hard. Let it work for me and many others like me, sir, who cannot afford to pay high premiums, sir,”  Barrett said.

The ACA insures all persons regardless of pre-existing conditions, while the American Health Care Act (AHCA) supported by the Trump administration will give the states the power to decide premium rates depending on the same pre-existing conditions.

Within hours  the bill being passed by the House, Republican senators stated they would draft their own version of the AHCA to repeal and replace the current health-care plan.

Scott Darius, executive director of Florida Voices for Health, began the press conference by calling out Sen. Rubio’s role in the new draft and asking Rubio to create an open dialogue with the community to speak about priority.

“It’s been a long time since Sen. Rubio has actually come and spoken to his constituents to publicly explain his position on a lot of these issues, and that is what we are looking for,” Darius said.

WLRN reached out to Sen. Rubio’s office for a statement, but has not received a response. 

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