CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta Highlights How Obamacare Benefited Trump Voters And The Dangers Of Repeal 

Gupta: “Truth Is, Some Of The States That Benefited Most From Obamacare Had A Majority Who Voted For Trump” 

From the January 5 edition of CNN's Erin Burnett Outfront

Video file

SANJAY GUPTA: Back in 2013, Bob Ruscoe, 53 years old, was a familiar story in America. Too familiar. He was more than 100 pound overweight. At risk of heart disease and diabetes. He was also self-employed and no company wanted to offer him health care insurance. He was considered too big a risk. Was that tough to go uninsured? 

BOB RUSCOE: Well, it doesn't make you warm and fuzzy. But I didn't like it, but it was the reality of the situation. 

GUPTA: When did you first hear about the Affordable Care Act? 

RUSCOE: It was all over the news. 

GUPTA:  Reporter: What did you think? 

RUSCOE:  I thought it was a good idea. Even though I'm conservative. 

GUPTA: So when did you first sign up for Obamacare? 

RUSCOE: When it was first available. It was October, I remember, and I wanted to be covered because it's important. 

GUPTA: And as a result, starting in 2014, Bob was able to get insurance after subsidies. It was finally within reach and a big relief. 

[...]

That repealing Obamacare would be good for the economy. It's a common refrain. But the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget suggests the opposite. They say fully repealing Obamacare would cost roughly $350 billion over ten years and would also increase the number of uninsured by 23 million. If he does repeal Obamacare as he's promised to do, what is that going to mean for you? 

RUSCOE: No insurance. 

GUPTA: No insurance. That was a big problem for you before. 

RUSCOE: I wasn't happy about it. 

GUPTA: Truth is, some of the states that most benefited from Obamacare had a majority who voted for Trump. Like Ruscoe's home state of Florida. In fact, Florida has the highest percentage of enrollees in the nation. 1 in 10 Floridians under 65 signed on for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. 

Related: 

The Cost of Full Repeal of the Affordable Care Act

Previously

10 Facts Reporters Should Include In Stories About Efforts To Repeal Obamacare

Reporters: Make “What Is Trump’s Replacement Plan” Your First Health Care Question Because It Wasn’t Asked During The Election

Watch An Economist Prove Why Trump's Piecemeal Obamacare Repeal Is Unworkable