WHEELING — Marti Starkey of Wheeling worries her son and his wife’s pre-existing medical conditions will mean they’ll have to stay at lower-paying jobs to keep their health insurance if Congress repeals or amends the Affordable Care Act.

Seven members of MOVE — Marchers Ohio Valley Empowered –stood with signs Thursday along Chapline Street across from the City-County Building, urging against repealing or changing the ACA — often called “Obamacare.” Members also spent time demonstrating at the corner of Main and North Market streets in St. Clairsville

They urged supporters to contact Republican Sens. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Rob Portman of Ohio with their thoughts. Both have said they don’t support repealing the health care law without a replacement, but MOVE members say they don’t want Congress to change it at all.

Starkey said the loss of ACA coverage would be an “insurmountable” problem for West Virginia, where so many residents rely on coverage provided through the expansion of Medicaid under the law.

“In the Northern Panhandle, life is a little better than in southern West Virginia, and we need to show a little empathy for other people in our state,” she said.

While Capito has announced her opposition to a new health care plan drafted by Senate leadership, Portman has yet to make a decision on the Senate’s latest draft of health care legislation, and says he continues to work with senators to achieve a bill that can pass in the Senate.

“Both states are in need of help with fighting opiate addiction problems,” she said. “The senators need to show their states are more important to them than their party.”

Starkey said while she personally hasn’t been affected by the ACA, she has concerns for family members who fear losing this coverage.

Both her son and daughter-in-law are educating themselves while working low-paying jobs and preparing for the future. Her son has a history of cancer, while her daughter-in-law is diabetic.

“I’m afraid they are going to be locked into a lower-paying job just so insurance pays for their pre-existing condition,” she said. “They might not be able to afford the insurance if they get a better job.”

Members of MOVE are not “belligerent” people, according to Starkey.

“The people of the state truly need health care, and to make health care accessible only to the wealthy isn’t fair to West Virginians,” she said.