This year, we faced another increase in our insurance premiums. The cause? Obamacare, officially known as the Affordable Care Act. Like many Americans, we reside in a state where the governor declined federal funds to fully implement the program, resulting in higher costs passed down to families like ours. The mandate requires that regardless of financial circumstances, we must pay for insurance. I understand why many people are frustrated; it’s disheartening to lose an additional $200 a month for a plan that hasn’t changed since last year.
Yet I recognize the value of having insurance at all, particularly because of Obamacare.
When my partner and I began our journey together over a decade ago, he started a new job that led to a pivotal decision in our lives. He sought my advice on whether to choose a PPO or an HMO plan. I urged him to opt for the PPO.
“But I’m healthy,” he argued. “I exercise regularly, and the HMO is more affordable.”
“Yes,” I replied, “but you never know when you might get sick. You don’t want to find yourself in a terrible situation if that happens.” What I really wanted to say was, “Don’t be foolish! This is crucial.”
Ultimately, he prioritized having extra funds for dates over comprehensive insurance.
That summer, he proposed, and the very next day, he suffered a grand mal seizure while playing softball. Rushed to the hospital, doctors discovered brain tumors—grade IV glioblastoma, one of the most lethal cancers with a grim prognosis. The average life expectancy following diagnosis is merely 18 months.
You can bet his HMO didn’t want to cover him.
I found myself battling $100,000 medical bills for surgery, thousands per month for MRIs and chemotherapy, and tens of thousands for radiation treatments, not to mention routine doctor visits. We were incredibly fortunate; my incessant questioning about his symptoms led to a doctor’s appointment that, while mismanaged, ultimately secured him coverage. Without it, he would face a future without any insurance options should his coverage lapse.
This was before the advent of Obamacare, which included protections for pre-existing conditions. If he survived, he would have been unable to get coverage even for something as common as an ear infection.
On the day President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, my partner had been living with brain cancer for three years. Economic downturns had caused him to lose his job, plunging us into debt as we struggled to afford COBRA. Cancer isn’t simple, and he needed MRIs every other month—each costing about $2,500. Anti-seizure medications ran over $1,000 monthly. By the time the ACA emerged, we had twins, and the expenses from an emergency C-section for premature births were overwhelming. Yet we were willing to risk everything to stay alive. He secured a new job but had to wait a full calendar year for insurance benefits to become available. We relied on COBRA, knowing that if he lost that coverage, it could be catastrophic.
The ACA transformed our situation. It provided essential safeguards; if my partner ever lost coverage, he could regain it. Employers like his could no longer deny benefits to their workers. After 14 months, he became eligible for insurance, thanks to the protections of Obamacare.
I’ve witnessed the public debate surrounding the Affordable Care Act, echoing the same concerns I had years ago. “But you could get sick, and you don’t want to be in a terrible situation if you do.”
You could be struck by a bus, suffer a punctured lung, and suddenly—pre-existing condition. No insurance for you, ever.
You could have asthma. BOOM. No insurance for you, ever.
You could have autism. BOOM. No insurance for you, ever.
Yes, healthcare can be costly. It’s new, and mandates are never inexpensive. However, what you pay for is not merely a health care plan. You’re paying for equitable access, regardless of gender. You’re securing the promise of no lifetime coverage caps and reassurance that you won’t lose your insurance when illness strikes.
I vividly recall waiting in the radiation treatment room, reading that “medical bankruptcy” is the leading cause of financial instability in this country.
We were lucky. We didn’t lose everything. We maintained our insurance and found a way to manage.
We are immensely fortunate; my partner is alive. Since his diagnosis, he has become a father to three beautiful girls—children for whom I worry about potential genetic predispositions to cancer. If they inherit such misfortunes, they too would face a lifetime of pre-existing conditions.
We are grateful to live in a time when treatment options have expanded beyond traditional radiation and chemotherapy. Nowadays, my husband uses a device called Optune, which emits electrical signals to disrupt tumor cells without side effects. With our insurance, we only pay our annual deductible. Without it, this life-saving device would cost us a staggering $35,000 per month.
When I find myself grumbling about that additional $200 in monthly premiums, I remind myself of this reality. I could be paying $200 more, or I could face a $35,000 monthly bill. Perhaps my husband’s colleagues complain about rising healthcare costs, but I imagine they look at him, see the device he wears, and understand that what they’re contributing to ensures a father tucking his children into bed every night—creating memories that would be lost without his coverage.
Everyone knows someone whose life has been saved by Obamacare.
While the Affordable Care Act may not be flawless, without it, my husband would likely be gone. My family would be in dire straits. Over 50 million Americans live with pre-existing conditions, and our insurance is our lifeline. It offers security, safety, and peace of mind, promising that another day will dawn.
To the senators advocating for the repeal of the ACA, I want to express what I wished to convey 11 years ago: “Don’t be foolish! This is critical.” This is a life-or-death issue; it determines who has the right to witness their children grow up based on mere chance or circumstance.
A repeal of the ACA is a potential death sentence for countless individuals, including my husband, who only wanted to live.
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Summary:
The Affordable Care Act has been a lifeline for families grappling with serious health conditions, providing crucial protections for those with pre-existing conditions and ensuring access to necessary healthcare. This personal narrative illustrates the profound impact that health insurance can have on families, emphasizing the importance of maintaining such protections to prevent loss of life and stability.