Yesterday was the 7 year mark for The Affordable Care Act (ACA). With the new administration, there has been a rabid push to "repeal and replace" the ACA. In reality, we know what this will mean for millions of Americans. Yesterday on the campus of ETSU, a group of concerned local citizens came together to hold a press conference and share how lives have been changed by the enactment and implementation of the ACA. They also shared what will be lost if the current GOP efforts are successful. They appealed to our state legislators to not go down the current dark path, but to find other ways to protect and enhance the current policy so that the millions of Americans can continue to have affordable health care insurance and all that comes along with it. Here is one story that was shared. His story is unique, and also a story that many understand and can personally identify with.
Lovingly shared for your consideration...
I am self-employed. I am a cancer survivor and I live with a
lifelong chronic condition. I am currently insured through the ACA with premium
assistance through the Ryan White Program. When I was diagnosed with cancer
back in 2004, I was gainfully employed and covered under an employer based
healthcare plan. This did not prevent me from becoming buried in insurmountable
medical debt. The system was broken!
A few years later I lost my job and then my insurance. The
high financial cost of trying to maintain a private health insurance policy
with preexisting conditions was not feasible. Preexisting conditions at this
point meant I was unable to obtain insurance even if I could afford it, and I did
not and still do not qualify for Medicaid. I, like thousands of others, fall
into a gap of not being sick enough or not being poor enough to qualify. I was
forced to live without health insurance and had no way to afford follow up care
and treatment. As a cancer survivor this is terrifying. If you can imagine for
a minute the amount of fear and anxiety this causes a person to live under.
NO follow up cancer screenings,
NO treatment if the cancer returns,
NO primary care doctor for minor illnesses that have the
potential to become severe or life threatening.
This places me and many like me with the only options
available. This often involves using the Emergency Room and hoping I can pay
the bills or just go further into debt. The other options were just be sick and
hope for the best.
This is what my life was prior to the Affordable Care Act.
After the ACA passed I was hopeful that our Governor, Bill
Haslam would expand Medicaid to the thousands of at risk people like myself.
He did not.
At this point I have obtained health coverage through the
ACA with premium assistance through the Ryan White Program.
I was finally able to get the cancer screenings that I desperately
needed.
I was able to get radiation treatments that I needed.
I now have a primary care doctor (none for many years).
I can avoid using the high cost of the Emergency Room.
I can continue with preventative care and avoid the high
cost of untreated illness.
I can continue to work and live without the fear of
crippling debt or death just around the corner.
Repealing the ACA is not just a political issue for me.
This is my life.
Under the GOP’s current replacement plan, I will likely be
faced with having no comprehensive health insurance yet again.
I will once again face the reality of financial punishment
for having a preexisting medical condition while the wealthy are given MORE tax
breaks.
I am not an imaginary person in some far off city or state.
I am your friend,
your family,
your neighbor.
Congressman Roe and Senators Corker and Alexander, are you
going to vote yes on a healthcare bill that is going to severely punish people
like myself?
~ used with permission from JF
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