A journalist traveled to Whitley County, Kentucky, to understand why many residents who benefit from the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, voted for Donald Trump, who promised to repeal the law. The county has a low median income and is predominantly white, with many residents lacking a college degree. Despite benefiting from the ACA, many residents expressed dissatisfaction with the law's costs and believed that Trump would make it better. Two possible explanations for this "Trump-Obamacare paradox" emerged: (1) people believed that Trump would not actually repeal the law, and (2) they were frustrated with the law's costs and thought Trump would improve it. The journalist met with ACA enrollees, including a security guard and an antique shop owner, who shared their experiences and frustrations with the law. The journalist also attended a meeting with President Obama, where a local woman, Kathy, asked for his thoughts on the law's flaws and how to fix them. Obama acknowledged the law's imperfections but emphasized that congressional Republicans and Trump are proposing repeal rather than improvements. The piece concludes that many people took a gamble on Trump's promise to repeal and replace Obamacare without seeing a plan, and now it remains to be seen whether the GOP-controlled Congress can deliver on its promise to build something better.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The county of Whitley County in Kentucky has a medium per-capita income of around $16,000.
2. Whitley County is 97% white and 88% of residents over 25 do not have a college degree.
3. Whitley County is the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
4. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, has benefited many residents in Whitley County.
5. Since the ACA was implemented in 2013, the percentage of people in Whitley County with health insurance has increased from 75% to 90%.
6. Many people in Whitley County who benefited from the ACA voted for Donald Trump in the presidential election.
7. Trump campaigned on a promise to repeal and replace the ACA.
8. The ACA has benefited over 20 million people nationwide.
9. Many people who rely on the ACA are dissatisfied with the cost of the program and believe that Trump will make it better for them.
10. Half of the enrollees who get their insurance on the Obamacare marketplace say that the deductibles are still too high.
11. An analysis by the nonpartisan Commonwealth Fund found that Trump's proposals would leave up to 25 million people uninsured.
12. President Obama suggested that providing more subsidies to working people who struggle to afford premiums could improve the ACA.
13. Obama's answer to Cathy's question about the ACA lasted almost eight minutes.