Possible healthcare reform concerns community

More than 20 million Americans depend on healthcare provided by Obamacare.

The Affordable Care Act was signed into effect by President Barack Obama in 2010. The healthcare system isn’t approved by everyone in the country and government system, but it has provided healthcare to a population that couldn’t afford it before.

With President Elect Donald Trump taking office in two weeks, there has already been talk of replacing Obamacare with a replacement plan. However, Republicans haven’t disclosed what their plan would entail. The uncertainty is causing concerns among the community, including patients of Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics.

“Those who are in the exchange and have been getting some preventative care through the exchange are worried they can lose their insurance. The other set of concerns that I hear really doesn’t have to do with the affordable care act, it has to deal with immigration issue,” said Doctor Charles Fenzi, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics.

In the meantime, patients are encouraged to enroll for Obamacare.

“I really believe there will be a replacement plan. Those folks are at risk right now for losing coverage, those are the 20 million people that you hear about it in the news. I’m very optimistic that there’s going to be a plan that’s not going to dump all those folks on the street,” said Fenzi.

Doctor Fenzi has been practicing for more than 35 years. He says serving his patients his the best job he could ever ask for.

“We’re dedicated to making this work. We’re working very hard at understanding the new ground rules so we can be here,” said Fenzi.