Incredible Video Shows a Republican Telling Paul Ryan He'd Be Dead Without Obamacare

During Paul Ryan's Town Hall meeting hosted by CNN on Thursday night, a small business owner and Republican who worked on the Reagan and Bush campaigns told the Speaker Ryan how Obamacare saved his life.

Jeff Jeans told Ryan that when he initially heard about the Affordable Care Act, he was staunchly against it. "I told my wife we would close our business before I complied with this law," he said before explaining that at age 49, he was diagnosed with cancer and told he had six weeks to live. Even though he offered the hospital three times what the treatment cost, he was told he needed an insurance card.

"Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, I'm standing here today alive," he said and asked why Republicans would repeal Obamacare without a replacement. He then said, "I want to thank President Obama from the bottom of my heart because I would be dead if it weren't for him."

Speaker Ryan said they wouldn't repeal Obamacare without having a replacement. "We want to replace it with something better," Ryan answered before suggesting the government finance state high-risk pools to guarantee people get affordable coverage when they have a preexisting condition.

The exchange happened the same day Republicans moved toward dismantling Obamacare despite concerns from both parties. Watch Jeans's question in the video above and see more of Ryan's answer at CNN.