Obamacare Repeal Conjures Fear For Chronically Sick

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When Vice President-elect Mike Pence spoke yesterday on Capitol Hill, he repeated a common party line: The first order of business for the new Republican-led Congress will be to get rid of the Affordable Care Act.

Though the word "Obamacare" could conjure a chorus of boos at Trump rallies, parts of the law are still enormously popular with many people, including the mandate that protects individuals with pre-existing conditions, and the ability for people under the age of 26 to stay on their parent's insurance.

But the GOP's plan to "replace" Obamacare could still be a long way off. While repealing the ACA is a top priority for Republicans, current plans suggest the congressional leadership will delay any actual changes to people's coverage, maybe even until 2020.

That doesn't mean people who get their coverage through Obamacare aren't worried.

Jacob Atkins is a 31-year-old from Indianapolis. He was diagnosed with HIV last May, and did not have health insurance. Facing a terrifying and life-threatening situation, Jacob turned to The Damien Center, an Indianapolis-based AIDS service organization. They matched him with Mehgan McCarthy, a care coordinator who helped him navigate the health care exchanges and get coverage through Obamacare.

Together, Mehgan and Jacob share their thoughts and fears about the future of Obamacare.