Spokane woman tells governor her life depends on Affordable Care Act

A Spokane woman who has had cancer since she was a baby says she'll probably die if Republicans in Congress repeal the Affordable Care Act.

When Courtney Anderson fights to save the Affordable Care Act, she is fighting for her life. She joined Gov. Inslee today in demanding a simultaneous replacement for the ACA.

“Because of the ACA, I can't be denied insurance based on the pre-existing conditions that I was diagnosed with when I was a baby,” she said in an interview before she appeared with Inslee.

Anderson is 4 feet 2 inches tall and, at 23 years old, has a childlike face. Her appearance is the result of having had cancer since she was a baby. The Affordable Care Act lets her stay on her parent's insurance for three more years. But if it's repealed without a comprehensive replacement, she says, “I will probably die, plain and simple.”

Health care advocates joined Gov.Inslee as he railed against plans to repeal the ACA.

Among them was Gina Owens, whose grandson from Tacoma stood next to the President Obama when he signed the law in 2010.

“The cost in lives and jobs, our very well-beings, would be very high. It would devastating,” Oens said.

But Republican legislative leaders who own their own businesses have seen costs skyrocket

“I know, personally, we've seen our costs double. We provide health care to our employees and their families and that's been the reality for us,” said House Republican Leader Dan Kristiansen, of Snohomish.

The GOP leaders scoff at Inslee for saying the state could lose more than $2 billion if the ACA is repealed, since the replacement plan hasn't been announced yet.

“Oh, no, no, this is not premature at all,” Inslee said. “We get $2.7 billion a year because of Medicaid expansion into the state of Washington. There's no qualms about this, this a fact, not an alternative fact."

Republican leaders in Congress are working on a replacement plan for the ACA, but there are still many questions about what it will cost individuals and the state.

Cox Media Group