Senate Republicans plan to move forward with legislation soon to repeal the Affordable Care Act, before a replacement plan is crafted. 

Advocates and people who benefit from Obamacare joined with Senator Blumenthal and 5th District Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty Monday morning to share their stories.  The lawmakers say the repeal will allow insurance companies to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions once again, and raise health care costs among other consequences. 

One of the people joining Blumenthal and Esty was Linda Yannone of Sherman.

Yannone moved to Sherman in 1982 and lives on Squantz Pont.  She worked as a gardner and farmer and called it a struggle to own a small business and be able to afford health care insurance.  The now-56 years old was diagnosed with cancer in 1987.  She didn't have insurance at that time and needed treatment.  After that, she couldn't get insurance because of the preexisting condition.  10 years later, she was diagnosed with Lymphoma. 

Yannone is a faith leader in the United Church of Christ, the Congregational Church.  She says thankfully, she had a community to support her.  She says an organizer came to speak about the importance of having health care and then became an advocate for health care reform.  She became an Assistor to enroll people in Access Health CT, the state's marketplace exchange under the Affordable Care Act.

Yannone is now a substitute teacher.  She is a medicaid recipient, which she says has enabled her to continue that work.  Yannone noted that many municipalities don't provide health care plans for substitute teachers.