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QUINCY, ILL. -- Local republican officials gathered at the Quincy Municipal airport Friday to discuss the president's "Affordable Care Act."

But not everyone is in favor of getting rid of it.

"The beginning and the end is covered but in the middle there is a hole that's not covered so it's kind of like a doughnut," Mike Mason, a senior on Medicare said.

Mason is talking about his healthcare. He says it pays up to a point but there's a hole in his coverage. Mason has Multiple Sclerosis and his prescriptions could cost more than $500 a month, something he once had to pay out of pocket, until the Affordable Care Act.

"Mainly about $50 or $60 dollars a month is what I pay now," Mason said. "It made it a lot easier, a lot less to worry about."

But local Republicans say the act is destructive to Illinois' state budget.

"It's unaffordable, it's unsustainable and it's crippling the current system and not serving the people it really needs to be serving," State Representative Jil Tracy said.

Under the Affordable Care Act Medicaid will expand. Allowing Americans living below the poverty line and those living 133 percent above it to be eligible. For Illinois that mean a 25 percent increase.

"So in a state that's going broke, that doesn't have money and can't pay for current providers, to add 700,000 more people to the roles seems to me counterproductive and not very smart for Illinois," Congressman Aaron Schock said.

Still, those receiving benefits from the Act say it's vital to those that need healthcare assistance and can't afford it.

"But it's to help our fellow citizens that have a health concern and maybe have a child that has a health concern and they would need the Affordable Care Act and your benefiting them with a little extra out of your own pocket," Mason said.