Have a pre-existing health condition? Read this

Nearly lost amid the impeachment of President Donald Trump was a ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that struck down the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate as unconstitutional, a victory for the GOP and Trump.

Whatever your feelings are about the individual mandate, the greater concern should be the ongoing effort by the GOP to dismantle the ACA. Doing so would be disastrous to all Americans. It's no secret that our Sens., Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst (who's running for reelection) wholeheartedly support the president, including destruction of the ACA.

What the average person may not realize is that the ACA goes beyond providing health insurance to millions of Americans who otherwise could not afford coverage. Within the ACA are protections that impact everyone in the country, regardless of political affiliation.

Did you know the ACA protects older Americans from being charged an 'age tax”? That it protects citizens from being denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions? That it's responsible for providing calorie counts on restaurant menus so we can make informed meal choices? That it prevents insurance companies from charging women more than men for health care services? Or that it allows 2.3 million young adults who attend college to stay on their parents' insurance plan until the age of 26?

Nearly a decade on, the ACA has become an integral part of our lives because it protects Americans from the real issues ailing our health care system: Greed and lack of compassion from the GOP.

Peggy Stover

Cedar Rapids