There has been much debate and talk about health care during this presidential campaign season. It is safe to say that health care is one of the biggest – if not THE biggest – issues on the minds of voters this year.

That said, by the time Jan. 20, 2021, rolls around, it still will take quite a bit of time for any new policy to make it to the hallowed halls of Congress, no matter who is commander in chief.

With this in mind, and the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court will be deciding the fate of the Affordable Care Act in the not too distant future, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu announced last week that the Granite State will join 17 other states in defending the ACA.

As Sununu noted, he isn’t taking this approach because he thinks the ACA has cut health care costs, but because of there isn’t an “adequate replacement” in place to protect New Hampshire residents.

“The state has no choice but to join the bipartisan effort to defend the program,” Sununu said last week. “To just pull it away and repeal it without a replacement, it would be devastating to New Hampshire.”

“Every state is very different,” Sununu added. “The ACA doesn’t impact other states like it impacts New Hampshire. It’s hundreds of millions of dollars and tens of thousands of citizens. To just throw their health care system away on a moment’s notice, we have to fight for what works.”

Although the Supreme Court’s decision will not come until after the presidential election, something must be done now to avoid a potential disaster for state residents.

Sununu is right to join others is defending the Affordable Care Act. It truly is in the best interest of each and every citizen in the Granite State.

That said, the ACA is far from perfect. Changes must be made so the program is more beneficial to all Americans, including those in New Hampshire.

While we do not advocate completely throwing out the ACA, legislators should go back to the drawing board to strengthen the program and make it work for everyone.

Newsletter