ver the past several months, we asked our over a million MomsRising members to share their personal stories about how the Affordable Care Act is already helping their families even before all the provisions are fully implemented. O The response was overwhelming. In the following pages, you will find some highlights of the nearly thousand heartfelt stories we received from MomsRising members from almost every state in the nation. As you’ll read, these stories are moving testimonies straight from the hearts of moms, dads, and grandparents about the way the Affordable Care Act is already helping families across the nation. On the following pages, you’ll find stories from people like: • Barbara from Woodstock, Georgia who has struggled for the last 6 years to keep her adult daughter who has Type 1 Diabetes and two other metabolic disorders alive. She writes that her daughter’s life was saved by coverage through her state’s Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan. • Elaine from Wichita, Kansas whose 18-month-old granddaughter was born prematurely with significant medical problems. She was within a month of hitting her lifetime cap and her family was deferring as much care as pos- sible, trying to reach September 1st when lifetime caps became illegal. • Emi, from Lincoln, Nebraska whose 20-year-old daughter was able to continue with family coverage because of the new provision allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ coverage until the age of 26. Because of this coverage, she was able to obtain a surgery to correct a badly deviated septum and now can complete her plan of joining the U.S. Air Force. • Jeanne from Boone, North Carolina who is a small business owner who reports that her health insurance costs have decreased dramatically as a result of health care reform. Because all plans now have unlimited benefits, she reports that she has more and better options. • Ruthann from Cottage Grove, Oregon who is 64 years old and had never had a colonoscopy before because she could not afford it. With the preventive care provisions of health reform, Ruthann was finally able to get a colo- noscopy which resulted in two pre-malignant polyps being removed. She writes, “So colon cancer was prevented, at great savings to the system and extension of life for me!” In the pages below, you’ll find hundreds of story highlights from people across the nation who are sharing wonder- ful personal testimonies like those above. These stories are listed alphabetically by state and indexed on page 7. Each of the MomsRising members whose stories are listed below has given MomsRising permission to share their stories by first name, city, and state. There are also hundreds more stories available on our online map of MomsRising member health care stories at http://www.momsrising.org/blog/stories-map/?topic=healthcare. If you would like to contact any of these individuals, please contact Donna Norton at [email protected]. In addition, if you’re interested in responding to these stories in a blog brief post on our website (which has a combined blog and social media reach estimated at 3 million), please feel free to email Anita Jackson at [email protected]. Thank you for your work on behalf of America’s families! Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner Executive Director MomsRising.org

MomsRising.org is a multicultural online and on-the-ground grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to achieve economic security for all families in the United States. MomsRising is working for paid family leave, flexible work options, affordable child care, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes so many mothers. MomsRising also advocates for healthcare for all, toxic-free environments, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families. In 2010, Forbes.com named MomsRising’s web site as one of the “Top 100 Websites For Women”

MomsRising.org 1 MomsRising Members Share How the Affordable Care Act is Helping Their Families

ployed in the health care in- dustry, I’m one of the lucky ones who has access and knowledge beyond what most people have. But that also means I witness many other tragic sit- uations in which patients I serve can’t get help. This month, when my new insurance card arrived My family has 3 kids with cystic fibrosis, and one in the mail, I compared it to last year’s – something I with a severe learning disability. I have never been always do, because if the old card is exactly the same able to contemplate a better-paying job because as the new card (and they never have the current with my kids’ pre-existing conditions, no new insur- year printed on them), I’ll just save the old card in er would ever take them. Because of the Affordable case I need a spare. Health Care Act, I just signed a great new job offer with much better pay and job advancement pros- But this year, I got to cut up last year’s card with pects! glee – the old one had the phrase “Annual Benefit Limit $10,000” (a number which my annual care could Also, we had had to create our will so that the easily exceed, and has), and the new card doesn’t three with cystic fibrosis could not inherit anything, contain that phrase, because a little bit of humanity in case no insurer would cover them when they actually went into our lawmaking last year. reached adulthood (and thus they would need Med- icaid, which has strict limits on assets). It’d be a shame to remove that little bit of hu- manity and leave people like me in the lurch again. You can imagine how it broke our hearts to dis- inherit three of our own kids!! But now, with the – Jasmine, Muskogee, Oklahoma Affordable Care Act, we can rip up that will!

Now insurers will never be able to deny our kids I am the co- the coverage they need, and so when our children owner of an grow up, they will be able to hold jobs and contrib- independent ute to society rather than becoming dependents of record label in the state. Chicago. My This is a win-win situation... people can become small business mobile and take better jobs; adults with chronic ill- covers 100% nesses can hold jobs and not go on the dole because of the health they are uninsurable. I hope all Americans will see insurance costs the wisdom of making health care available to all! for our staff of – Valerie, Orem, Utah seven. With the new health I have several chronic conditions, all of which are care reform my business will see approximately wildly expensive, including Type 1 diabetes since age $12,000 in tax credits. In this economy, that kind of 10. I have lived my whole adult life in fear of ben- tax credit will make a huge difference for our com- efit caps, sudden coverage drops, randomly denied claims from people at my insurance company who pany and allow us to invest more in our business. have no medical knowledge – and as a person em- – Nan, Chicago, Illinois

2 MomsRising.org My 21 year old is tak- ing a year off from school. He is having to pay back school loans from the first year. He works a full-time job with a small business. He cannot afford health insurance on his own, and we cannot afford to pay for it for him. Adding him on to my policy was an in- surance blanket or sense of security that all of us needed at a time when I have not had a pay increase in the past 2 years. He My name is Magdalena and I am mother of a beau- is fortunate enough to be relatively healthy, but my tiful 6 year old girl named Paloma. Paloma was diag- husband and I need to have that burden of him being nosed with severe Autism when she was 2 years old. uninsured off of our shoulders when the economy is so depressed. Please keep moving forward, and stop It’s been four years of physical, emotional, and fi- trying to take America back to the dark ages. nancial struggles. Trying to find the means to provide for the therapies, diets and all medical needs for our – Tracy, Norfolk, Virginia daughter has taken a tremendous toll in our family. We constantly struggle fighting the school district since it I have paid is incapable of proving what my daughter needs. Our for healthcare private insurance would only cover 20 hour sessions my entire life of speech therapy a year! My daughter is non-verbal either through and 20 hours of speech therapy is sadly a joke. ABA, an employer which is the only scientifically proven therapy that re- or with an in- ally helps people with Autism, was not covered at all. dividual plan, It is a horrible to know that there are means and ways and at the age to help your child but not being able to give her help 31, I gave birth is killing us. to my first We just recently found out that with the new child. I was not Health Care Reform we would finally be able to pro- overweight, vide our daughter with desperately needed ABA she didn’t drink or needs. We were so happy... the first great news we smoke and did everything my doctor said to do while had received in these past 4 years. Please, I beg you pregnant. Our daughter was born with a rare and life do not take this away from us. Please do not take the threatening form of epilepsy to do a sporadic gene only chance my daughter has to become the best she mutation. can be. ABA can do this for her, but unfortunately we In her two years, she has had over a thousand sei- cannot afford it without the help of this Health Care zures and she stops breathing every single time. She is Reform. now 2 years old and when she spends time in the PICU – Magdalena, Houston, Texas (twice a year for two weeks at a time so far) we come home with a minimum of a $250,000 bill from the hos- pital, which our insurance pays most of us, fights us on Health care reform is already some of it, and flat out denies some of it. If lifetime making a difference in the life limits were not lifted, Violet’s insurance would run of my 91-year-old mother who out by the time she is 4 years old and her pre-existing once held down three jobs to condition would prevent her from being insured by support her family of 12 chil- another carrier, whose lifetime limit would run out in dren. My physician father was another few years. Unless a cure is found, our daugh- killed in an automobile acci- ter will be admitted to the hospital throughout her dent when I was only 4 months lifetime and a lifetime limit on insurance would limit old and my oldest sister was just her lifetime on earth. – Julie, Novato, California g

MomsRising.org 3 15. Mom went to work and amazingly raised us all, My 20-year- instilling in us the values of honesty and hard work. old daughter was able to Now, at 91 she is suffering from COPD, heart disease continue to be and metastatic breast cancer. She has always paid for covered by our the best supplemental insurance, but even with that, insurance after she pays thousands a year in healthcare and in her having to with- words has “outlived her retirement savings.” draw from col- Without the gradual decrease of co pays and clos- lege this fall. ing of the “doughnut hole” we would be lost. PLEASE, She had a badly deviated septum from 15 years of play- PLEASE continue to help this AMAZING lady in her time ing soccer paired with badly configured cheek sinuses of need. that caused her immense problems with breathing and – Sarah, Beaufort, South Carolina continuous sinus infections. She had surgery to fix these things just before Christmas. This would not have hap- pened without HCR. She told me the other day that she could breathe through her nose for the first time in years. Aside from these issues, she has exercise-induced asthma (that was mainly due to the deviated septum/ sinus problems). These things would have been pre-ex- isting conditions that would have prevented her from getting coverage on her own. After having surgery to correct her breathing prob- lems, she now is able to go through with her plan to join the Air Force. That is one way Health Care Reform has impacted MY family already. – Emi, Lincoln, Nebraska

Our 7-year- old son has been battling Dawn shares her story with President Obama a rare cancer called a sar- coma for over As a self-employed professional I’ve always had to 3 years. Unfor- secure my own health insurance. In the past, when- tunately, this ever I’ve gotten a plan, there was always something disease will be that was excluded. Since I and others in my family have treated as a had medical issues in the past, the usual response was, chronic condi- “We’ll cover you, but not if this condition happens tion for the rest again. If you need medical care for this past condition, of his life. it’s not covered.” These exclusions always irritated me, I was so grateful and relieved the night that health because I always felt like we had “half coverage.” care reform was finally passed back in December of Recently we got a new policy and I was expecting 2009. We personally stayed up during the late hours of one of these exclusions on my son because he has had the night to watch the votes being counted – and we eye muscle surgery in the past year to correct a condi- were on a family vacation in Florida. We squealed with tion called strabismus. When we received word that we joy when it passed. were approved with no exclusions, I actually questioned Cancer lays a heavy burden on families, but added the agent to clarify. “Do you mean that if my son needs in the exclusion which exist in our country because of another surgery on his eye that it’s covered?” I asked. health insurance tactics – this contributes to heavy finan- “Yes,” the agent said. “We can’t exclude conditions any cial loses and bankruptcy of many families. longer, so it will be covered.” How wonderful!!!!! How much more pressure do families have to face – Dawn, Jacksonville, Florida along with the devastation of the disease? Lack of insur-

4 MomsRising.org ance coverage to care for your child? Health care reform Health care was so was been one giant step forward in doing what is right important to my family. in our country and it’s people and families. I was in graduate school when I had my son, and I With the passing of reform, I have relief that, my had no health insurance. son until the age of 19 will not be denied coverage for a Luckily, I was able to ob- preexisting condition. I have relief that my son will not tain healthcare coverage have to face an annual or life time limit for his care. I through Medi-Cal, which have relief that my son can stay on our health insurance was essential to the well- plan until the age of 26. Our insurance company can- being of my unborn not drop us from the plan when we need insurance the child. I received quality most. care during the remain- There may not be a cure for my son’s sarcoma at this der of the pregnancy time, and this fact weigh heavily for our family. But and for a couple of years knowing that health care insurance, because of reform, after birth until I finished graduate school. has been improved and a safety net has been put into Health care was crucial in my son’s case because he place, we can have some peace. had a number of respiratory problems, which led to With this upcoming election, we again are fearful bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma. He even had to see that reform could be repelled and that would be dev- a pulmonary specialist. He now is free of all respiratory astating for so many Americans. Our story is just one,, ailments thanks to the health care we received. I’m so but please remember that we are not alone in our story, glad that health reform will extend health insurance there are thousands and thousands of American’s like us to millions of people in the U.S. and that my son will – fighting to keep our country moving forward for the not be denied coverage because of his prior respiratory hope for change. problems. No child should be without health insur- – Tracy, Boulder, Colorado ance! – Chantal, Oakland, California

My daughter had aged out of our previous policy A few years ago my daughter Julie was diagnosed and currently has a job that does not provide coverage. with an illness called Dysautonomia and Postural We were able to cover her again thanks to health care Orthostatic Tachycardia (POTS). Julie had numer- reform. Also, my son has Juvenile Diabetes. We have ous hospital visits requiring many tests and proce- struggled to make sure he had no gap in coverage, even dures. The costs were astronomical. Julie continued at times when most of our income was going to pay to be covered under my insurance through my em- health insurance, because of the pre-existing conditions ployer who provided a great plan. that many insurance companies impose on new policy- Julie’s insurance was to soon come to an end be- holders. Health care reform has removed this great cause of her age but her illness was getting worse worry from our shoulders. Now, we know that our son and Julie’s health deteriorated severely at the end can continue to receive the coverage he needs even if he of 2010. Julie was blacking out daily and unable to switches insurance companies, or has a gap in coverage continue work or school. There were days when she at some point. – Khadija, Kentucky g

MomsRising.org 5 only had the energy to crawl to the bathroom. Julie As my fears of something really serious happen- had a heart monitor installed as her doctors believed ing to Julie now dissipate, my fears increase for Ju- there was a possible underlying heart condition. On lie when I think about health care reform being re- January 11th I got a phone call that Julie’s monitor pealed. revealed episodes of 100% heart block which could She is a beautiful grown young woman but to result in sudden cardiac arrest. She was immediately me still my baby girl and deserving of health care scheduled for a pacemaker. that we are more than willing to pay for. We want This was weeks after Julie would have been nothing for free. I just want to go to sleep at night dropped from my health insurance. I can’t even al- knowing that in this wonderful country called the low myself to think of what would have happened. United States of America, with all of the brilliant Julie needed a very unique pacemaker that was health care providers that we have here, my daugh- just approved in the U.S. in May of 2010. Would we ters can get health care when they need it. have been able to find a local cardiologist familiar – Lisa, Minneapolis with dysautonomia? Would we have been able to re- quest a specific pacemaker that her cardiologist in To- ledo recommended? Would she have been able to be admitted after going to the emergency room for days to be monitored before her pacemaker was put in? As I feared for her life and her recovery, the stress of wondering whether or not she could have even gotten the help she needed was not a thought I could fathom. What is sad is that I know for many families, these kinds of worries are so very real. Julie looked at me the day after her pacemaker was put in and said “Mom, look at my fingernails!” I said, “Why?” She said, “Mom, they’re pink!” It had been a long time since blood had reached her extrem- ities. Holding her warm hand after surgery, warmed my heart. As I stared at the heart monitor now pulsing with a regularity I hadn’t seen all week, I swear I could From the start I was completely for Health Care see the changes in her face as the blood seemed to be reform. But when it came, it was complicated and bringing the needed oxygen to her every part of her required already money-strapped families to add an body. Julie’s heart is now beating more regularly and extra expense to their budgets. Because of the many helped daily by her pacemaker. points and items added and released in layman lan- guage by the press, I became so worried I revoked my She is not completely healed. The coming months support and emailed my senator. After hearing the will show how many of the symptoms of Dysautono- stories sent by Momsrising, I am very sorry to have mia remain. Since the pacemaker though she has not done so. We may have to give to get, but in this case blacked out which previously was an almost daily oc- I believe the getting out weighs the giving. currence rendering her unable to do almost anything most days. – Trudy, Maryland

It’s clear that the voices of mothers are powerful. A recent study by the Herndon Alliance found that the use of personal stories wrapped around a benefit facilitates a considerable shift in the public’s sup- port of the health law and that women are both a crucial audience and ideal messengers. http://hern- donalliance.org/resources/what-s-new/quick-guide-post-passage-message.html Please share these stories with your friends, families, community, and constituents. On the next page are a listing of key stories by state. Hundreds more are available on our website at http://www.momsris- ing.org/blog/stories-map/?topic=healthcare and new stories are constantly being added. Together we can be a powerful voice for children and families.

6 MomsRising.org INDEX OF STORIES BY STATE

ALABAMA...... 7 LOUISIANA...... 20 OHIO...... 31 ALASKA...... 7 MAINE...... 21 OKLAHOMA...... 31 ARIZONA...... 7 MARYLAND...... 21 OREGON...... 32 ARKANSAS...... 8 MASSACHUSETTS...... 22 PENNSYLVANIA...... 33 CALIFORNIA...... 8 MICHIGAN...... 22 PUERTO RICO...... 34 COLORADO...... 10 MINNESOTA...... 23 RHODE ISLAND...... 34 CONNECTICUT...... 12 MISSISSIPPI...... 25 SOUTH CAROLINA...... 34 DELAWARE...... 13 MISSOURI...... 25 SOUTH DAKOTA...... 35 FLORIDA...... 13 MONTANA...... 26 TENNESSEE...... 35 GEORGIA...... 15 NEBRASKA...... 26 TEXAS...... 36 HAWAII...... 16 NEVADA...... 27 UTAH...... 38 IDAHO...... 16 NEW HAMPSHIRE...... 27 VERMONT...... 38 ILLINOIS...... 17 NEW JERSEY...... 27 VIRGINIA...... 39 INDIANA...... 19 NEW MEXICO...... 28 WASHINGTON...... 39 IOWA...... 19 NEW YORK...... 28 WEST VIRGINIA...... 41 KANSAS...... 20 NORTH CAROLINA...... 29 WISCONSIN...... 41 KENTUCKY...... 20 NORTH DAKOTA...... 30 WYOMING...... 41

ALABAMA ALASKA cover my prescriptions and makes it difficult and expensive to re- Sandy Paige (Anchorage) ceive specialty care (ex: derma- We never expected that our I have a daughter currently go- tologist, optometrist). Thanks to healthy, active, eleven-year-old ing to college out of state. This past health care reform, I was able to son would be diagnosed with a summer she landed in the emergen- get back on my father’s insurance. chronic and potentially life threat- cy room twice because of a previ- Now I can, once again, afford the ening condition. But, on March ously unknown health condition. It prescriptions that I need and see 1st, 2010 an emergency room doc- is one that will recur from time to my doctors as frequently as they tor diagnosed Joshua with Type 1 time and causes her disabling pain recommend. Diabetes. There is no cure for this and it is incurable to my knowledge. auto-immune disorder, in which Even with a family policy, I am Tonya (Phoenix) the immune system attacks and still paying off the costs that were Our children can now stay on destroys the body’s insulin produc- not covered. There is no way she our insurance until they are 26. ing cells. could afford this on her own. I was My son started school late, is 19 worried sick that she would become We quickly learned to give in- and taking one credit in high too old for coverage under our sulin shots, count carbs, and use school and has a year of college policy and would have no access to many daily finger sticks to monitor done. Without this help, my son emergency services and pain relief his blood sugar levels. With care- would not be covered on our in- when it inevitably happens again. ful managment, Joshua can live surance anymore and would be a full and healthy life. I breathe I was thrilled to learn the new forced to look for work that has a sigh of relief knowing that he health care reform plan would insurance, instead of focusing on can’t be denied health insurance mean she could not be dropped his college education. This is im- because of his condition – both from our family policy unti age 26. portant for us, it means a better now and later as an adult. I can rest easy knowing that she can life for our son than we had. We Joshua is a great kid. He’s kind, continue coverage and receive care pay our insurance premiums and compassionate, a straight-A stu- she needs. we pay our co-pays – we deserve dent, and active in our church. Just the right to cover our kids while because a person has less-than- they are in college! ARIZONA perfect health, doesn’t mean that I have one son that has issues person can’t also be a valuable and Kate (Tucson) that require mental health ap- productive member of our society. I’m a 23-year-old full time pointments, its vital that he con- Please keep health insurance graduate student and get health tinues his treatment. Many of our available for EVERYBODY. Thank insurance through the University, you! but that health insurance doesn’t g

MomsRising.org 7 young people in college go with- to be able to pay for their own in- of dollars per year for medication out health coverage and when is- surance. Straight out of college or that I need to take every day. Thank sues come up, devastating results high school, most of our sons’ peers you Obama and company for al- have already been seen. are making less than $20,000 per lowing me to live a mostly regular year-- not enough to pay for de- lifestyle without the stress of deal- cent health insurance. ing with insurance companies who would otherwise close the door on me. ARKANSAS

Tracy (Gassville) Even though Arkansas already has a law requiring employers to provide a place for me to express breast milk it’s the health care re- form regulation that really made them notice the need. When I come back from maternity leave they will have a private, carpeted Denise (Tempe) room for me to pump in! My sons are 20 and 23 years old. When they aged out of being covered on our health insurance CALIFORNIA plan we chose COBRA coverage Jack (Santa Cruz) for them. It’s very expensive and I Before I turned 24 last year imagine that most families would Chantal (Oakland) (2009), I became very sick. When choose to simply not have health Health care was so important I was diagnosed with a lifelong insurance at all. Or, they could get to my family. I was in graduate chronic condition a month after “Affordable until you get sick” in- school when I had my son, and I turning 24, I was relieved to know surance. That insurance is the only had no health insurance. Luckily, I that this new Health Care Reform other option available to them: was able to obtain healthcare cov- protected me from being dropped insurance plans that had great, af- erage through Medi-Cal, which from insurance now and being de- fordable co-payments, and afford- was essential to the well-being of nied insurance in the future. With- able premiums, but a $10,000 limit my unborn child. I received qual- out it, I would be paying thousands if you are admitted to a hospital! ity care during the remainder of $10,000 would not cover much at the pregnancy and for a couple all if you had to be admitted to a of years after birth until I finished hospital. “Unless a cure graduate school. We know this because one son is found, our Health care was crucial in had a paralyzing syndrome and my son’s case because he had a was hospitalized for 7 weeks. For- daughter will number of respiratory problems, tunately, he was 19 years old at be admitted which led to bronchitis, pneumo- that time, so he was covered under nia and asthma. He even had to our insurance. He made a complete to the hospital see a pulmonary specialist. recovery, and is 100% productive throughout her He now is free of all respira- now, thanks to very good medical lifetime and a tory ailments thanks to the health care when he needed it. care we received. All of that was before the lifetime limit on I’m so glad that health re- health care reforms were passed. insurance would form will extend health insurance Now with the health care changes to millions of people in the U.S. of 2010, our lives are much better! limit her lifetime and that my son will not be de- Young adults need this bridge to on earth.” nied coverage because of his prior stay on their parents’ insurance un- respiratory problems. No child til they have worked long enough Julie, Novato, CA should be without health insur- to have developed a livable salary ance!

8 MomsRising.org way America’s families want to My husband and I felt a sense of go back to the bad old days when relief at the thought that no matter we were unprotected from the how many surgeries Ethan needed, insurance industry’s worst abuses. or how many specialists we would have to see, and no matter how much the treatment for Ethan’s dis- Michelle (Auburn) ease may cost, the insurance com- The new health care bill en- pany could never deny our claim! abled the small business I work for We felt relief that they could not to finally get health care coverage say “Okay, we’re not making any for myself and another employee. I more money on your policy so have a pre-existing condition that we’re dropping you!” We felt se- is not life threatening, but is very cure that they could not deny our painful. I can only get treatment son medicine in the future because for this pre-existing condition if I he had needed it in the past. I ask have group insurance. you how was this type of business Julie (Novato) ever allowed? How is repealing it My beautiful daughter Vio- not criminal against humanity? The let was born with a rare and life answer is, IT IS!!! threatening form of epilepsy due From one parent to another, to a sporadic gene mutation. In please, don’t let my family down. her two years, she has had over a thousand seizures and she stops breathing every single time. She is now 2 years old and when she spends time in the Pediatric In- tensive Care Unit (twice a year for two weeks at a time so far) we come home with a minimum $250,000 bill from the hospital. Hilary (Cambria) My son Ethan is in the diagnos- While our insurance covers tic process of a bone tumor. He has most of this, if lifetime limits tumors in his leg, rib, and spine. were not lifted, Violet’s insur- We are overwhelmed with grief as ance would run out by the time our happy, healthy boy of ten years she is 4 years old and her pre- faces this battle. The thought of existing condition would pre- having to worry about how to pay vent her from being insured by for doctors’ bills, hospital stays, or another carrier, whose lifetime chemotherapy while we try to stay limit would run out in another strong for our son is demented. few years. My husband works three jobs. Dawn (Los Angeles) Unless a cure is found, our He holds a Masters Degree from a I have had several relatives who daughter will be admitted to the California Polytechnic State Univer- have had long periods of hospi- hospital throughout her lifetime sity and a Bachelor’s from Auburn talization, one who was almost and a lifetime limit on insurance University. He teaches college level bankrupt by it. They had medical would limit her lifetime on earth. writing at three schools, Cal Poly insurance, but the coverage had That’s why, as a Califor- being one of them. Luckily, we limits and once they’d reached the nia MomsRising member, I fought have insurance. lifetime limits they were expected for health reform and why I’m However, even with insurance, to pay out of pocket. In the case still fighting to make sure that the mounting cost of our sons di- of my aunt, a retired teacher, her the protections we won by pass- agnostic tests would force us to hospitalization cost over a hundred ing health care reform, like end- foreclose on our home of five years thousand dollars. Those are the ing lifetime and annual limits on if California Child Services was not real threats- when the cost of sav- care are not rolled back. there to help us. This state run pro- No matter what, there is no gram helps families. g

MomsRising.org 9 ing you threatens to destroy your unable to pay many of my own nec- condition. Thanks to our ability to life and everything you’ve built up essary bills. secure ongoing health check ups over the years. I’m so relieved that Thanks to Obama’s health care and keep his asthma under control, under healthcare reform, my family reform legislation, next year, my we have never experienced a full will no longer have to worry about mom will be getting a $250 re- flare up nor have had to visit the emergency room. Which translates annual or lifetime limits on care. bate check for her medications and to many dollars saved! next year will get a 50% discount on her brand name medications, which will help tremendously. The COLORADO legislation will ultimately close the doughnut hole, which is what Jenny (Nederland) needs to happen. My family is pretty healthy, but I also have “good” health cov- last year my doctor noticed that my erage through my employer, but daughter’s legs are not the same it had a lifetime coverage cap (a length so she has been referred to $ amount). Since I have a num- an orthopedic specialists. ber of health conditions that have We have a high-deductible plan Felicity (Irvine) required treatment and plan to so any non-catastrophic expenses I’m glad my twenty-one-year- remain with my current job long- are essentially paid out of pocket. old son can stay on our family term, removal of the lifetime “cap” But without health care reform, I health plan for a few more years. on insurance benefits is very help- delayed following up on that refer- ful. Also, the fact that insurers can ral because I was afraid of what her no longer deny coverage based new “condition” would mean for on preexisting conditions will be renewing her insurance policy or the very helpful if I do end up chang- rate we pay. But WITH health care ing jobs. Otherwise, I would be reform, I know now that her condi- concerned that even if a change in tion won’t cause her to get canceled employment would give me better – although I suppose they could still opportunities, I might be unable to raise our rates. I am looking forward obtain full health coverage. to additional improvements which Thank you. hopefully will allow us to get away from our high-deductible plan.

Myra (San Mateo) Tracy (Boulder) Health care reform has already My 7-year-old son, Klaus, has been a major help to my family. been battling a rare cancer called My mother is 93 years old and is sarcoma for over 3 years. And, as a on a number of medications. She MomsRising member from Boulder, takes at least 5 brand name medi- Colorado, I fought for health care cations for which no generic exists reform – and I’ll keep fighting for at this time. She is currently in the it so all kids who need care can get Medicare Part D doughnut hole, care. Our family sent letters to Con- and last month we paid $1,800 gress and stayed up late the night for her medications for only one of the final vote on the health care month’s supply. bill in order to watch the votes be- Unfortunately, neither my mom ing counted. We shouted with joy nor my family can afford this level Celina (San Leandro) when it passed because we’d no of expenditures for her medicine My child is adopted and was longer have to worry that Klaus’ on an ongoing basis, but we are born with reflux and was later di- treatment would be denied because afraid to discontinue her medica- agnosed with asthma. I cannot of his pre-existing condition, or that tions because of the risk to her imagine what I would have done he’d hit the annual or lifetime limit health. Last month, I spent about if his health was further compro- for his care. $800 of my own funds trying to mised because health insurance As the mother of a child fighting help her, which meant that I was was denied due to a pre existing cancer, I know that we absolutely

10 MomsRising.org covered. I told them that Presi- dent Obama’s health care reform protected adult children, allowing them to be covered under their par- ents’ policy until the age of 26. They then told me that in that case, I did not need to send proof of student status every six months. Health care reform has already helped me, ensuring that my daugh- ter (and soon my son, who will turn 18 this year) are protected against abuses and neglect by health insur- ance providers.

MomsRising members and coalition partners visit with California legislators. can’t return to the bad old days if my son must change insurance when insurers could drop us when carriers, my grandson cannot be we got sick or exclude our children denied coverage because of these from coverage because of pre-exist- pre-existing conditions. ing conditions. Either of these would be a Cancer lays a heavy burden on death sentence for my grandson Robert (Coaldale) families, but health insurer tactics to and would qualify that company I was uninsured due to trumped exclude sick people from coverage for the “death panel” label. up pre-existing conditions by the in- surance companies. only exacerbates this burden and leaves many families in bankruptcy. I went to a local health fair in April and found I had what turned How much more pressure do out to be aggressive prostate can- families have to face along with cer. Without insurance my wife and the devastation of a serious illness? I applied for a Colorado state and Health care reform was one giant federal program called Colorado step forward in doing what’s right Indigent Care Program (40 years for our country and its families – and working 70 to 90 hours a week as a we need to keep moving forward. professional artist/sculptor and they There may not be a cure for my call me indigent). son’s sarcoma at this time, and this We qualified for the CICP and fact weighs heavily on our family. it helped with some tests and later But knowing that our health insur- with a very expensive medication, ance is secure because of health care Graciela (Fort Collins) but the hospitals I really needed reform gives us some peace of mind. I have a 19-year-old daughter and the doctors that work in them who is a full-time college student. who specialize in treating prostate Regardless, our health insurance cancer would not accept it. The Mike (Basalt) provider didn’t want to cover her. primary hospital I needed even re- My grandson is severely handi- We had to give them proof of her fused my cash. capped and his medical care is student status before they’d agree very expensive. I certainly sleep to cover her. They told me I’d have Finally on July first, Obamacare’s better knowing that an insurance to contact them every six months Pre-existing Condition Insurance company cannot impose a life- with proof of her being a student time cap on his expenses and that in order for her to continue being g

MomsRising.org 11 that in Colorado is called “Get- tingUSCovered” began accepting applications for activation on Sep- tember 1st. Now I am insured, my surgery was a success. The surgeon was able to determine there was no discernible cancer remaining in my system. I just received the re- sults from my 3 month PSA test and am still clear. Without Obamacare I would be dying now.

Ruth (Colorado) My employer is a small non- profit that believes in doing the right thing by providing health in- surance benefits for its employees. I’m poised to submit a Form 8941 to claim a credit for the employer’s MomsRising members bring their children to the Capitol in support of the health insurance premiums, and Affordable Care Act. I’ve included this credit in our 2011 Operating Budget. This credit is re- With health care reform, I now health reform has passed and that ally critical for us as we stretch dol- know that I cannot be denied cov- we don’t have to worry about los- lars to make it in a time of decreas- erage because of a pre-existing ing insurance through our employ- ing donations to nonprofits. condition. Knowing that simple er anymore. fact, my whole family and I can And for those that say coverage rest better at night, assured that I got more expensive because of the will continue to be able to get the reform, I want to share how our CONNECTICUT health care that I will need for the employer handled this, because I rest of my life. think that this was done very well. Carla (Southington) They did raise the initial deduc- I lost my job in February 2010. Birgit (Newtown) table for everyone insured (sure In April 2010 I was diagnosed with enough using health care reform as My daughter has a genetic con- Multiple Sclerosis. During my em- an excuse). However, everyone can dition that is associated with mal- ployment, I had received health earn the amount of money that formation of certain organs, espe- care through my employer. When I the deductable was raised back, by was laid off, I was offered the con- cially the heart. At age 3 she had participating in preventive exams tinuance of my insurance through open-heart surgery to correct this. (gauged toward your age and situ- COBRA, but I could not afford it. I Thanks to insurance provided by ation), which is just going to help had been on my state’s Medicaid our employer we didn’t have to everyone stay healthy anyway. And plan before, and so I was able to worry about the costs too much, that is one of the only ways that get back on it when I lost my other but considering that she might as a society we will really get the insurance. have additional (costly) health health care costs down – with PRE- needs over the years, it always However, now being both un- VENTION, which people will only was scary to know that the costs employed and diagnosed with use if they have health insurance for the surgery (+ the initial NICU a chronic illness, without health coverage!!! stay) would count toward her life- care reform my new worries might time limit. Additionally, with her have been: what if I got a new job condition being genetic, she would and suddenly my income were to Carol (Willington) always have a “pre-existing con- put me over the maximum income As a self-employed single mom dition,” and should we ever lose guidelines of the state insurance, of two, my family was without coverage through our employer it but I couldn’t get health care in- healthcare for many years because surance through my new employer would be difficult to provide her we couldn’t afford it. What a huge because I now have a pre-existing with appropriate health insurance. worry and out-of-pocket expense condition? So yes, we are glad that the when the kids got sick. I always had

12 MomsRising.org to negotiate for lower fees to fit eye surgery to correct a problem what I could pay. There’s a lot of called strabismus. Shortly after his shame in that. “Legislation surgery, the company we were in- Now I’m on Medicare, I want ev- from Washington, sured through dropped us, so we eryone to have the security of basic D.C. had had to get new insurance. The new coverage, like I have now. plan, which was very expensive, personally excluded any treatment related to affected my Wesley’s eye. By June of 2010, we Nancy (Waterford) couldn’t handle the premiums any- My husband has Multiple Myelo- family – and in more, so we began searching for a ma. He would not receive his treat- a good way! new plan. ment if there were a cap put on our The new plan we enrolled in health care coverage. It could have ...I never felt it is an individual plan and is one devastating effects on our ability to hit home of the company’s newly created stay in our home or worse. We can’t “affordable options.” When the put a price tag on someone’s life. like this.” insurance company representa- What would we pay it with? Dereg- tive called me and said that every- ulations and uncontrolled corpora- Dawn, Jacksonville, FL thing went through underwriting tions saw to it that the money we did and we were fully covered, I said, save, was for naught, in the financial “Okay, but...” crisis. We already pay thousands of dollars above the insurance, but it is “But what?” she asked. not enough to claim it on our taxes. “But what’s not covered?” I We are also concerned about the asked. cuts to Medicare. The cancer center “Everything is covered,” she re- where my husband receives chemo- plied. therapy has been hit hard. Feeling that I wasn’t making myself clear, I pointedly asked her, DELAWARE “What about my son and his eye condition? If he needs another sur- Elizabeth (Wilmington) gery (and most kids do need more When health reform passed, I than one surgery to fully correct felt hope for our country. Because the problem), is it covered?” I did not have health insurance, I “Yes,” she said. “Your family is have chosen with my husband who fully covered. is French to live in France to raise our young children. It would have been I couldn’t believe it. She then unaffordable for us in the US to be said, “We no longer exclude pre- a stay-at-home mom and pay for in- existing conditions in children.” surance for a family of four on one FLORIDA It didn’t hit me until later that (self-employed) income. evening what had happened. Leg- Dawn (Jacksonville) In France, our health care is en- islation from Washington, D.C. I know from personal experi- tirely covered and top-quality, and had personally affected my fam- ence that repealing health reform I feel very blessed to be able to live ily — and in a good way! While I in France. But I do wish to return to would be devastating for my fam- know I somehow feel the effects the US when I am ready to return to ily and for so many other families of Washington’s laws and rules on work when our children are older. across America. The provisions of a regular basis, I never felt it hit I really hope that the US gets on health reform that went into ef- home like this. I was both happy board with the rest of the developed fect on September 23rd this year and shocked. world and provides basic needs to its have already have helped my fam- Everyone has something in residents. ily immensely. their medical history. Whether We need health reform in the US, I’m a self-employed entrepre- that something is small — like stra- we need to be protected from the in- neur and supply my own health bismus — or big — like hemophilia surance companies’ interests, and we insurance. In July of 2009, my need basic health care for everyone. four-year-old son Wesley needed g

MomsRising.org 13 — it’s a fact of life that we all get sick at some point. And when in- surance companies can use any bit of information as a reason to deny coverage and hike up premiums, they’ll do so unless someone steps in to stop it.

Tarina (Miami) My daughter Natalia, 11, has epilepsy and cerebral palsy. I have not able to buy private insurance for her that will cover her chronic conditions, because of the discrim- ination against pre-existing condi- tions. She needs neurological and orthopedic care on a regular basis, as well as physical and occupation- al therapies. Her monthly medica- Nevada MomsRising members meet with Senate staff about the health care tion bill fluctuates between $500 needs of families. and $1,500. school’s insurance for her. In this to be eliminated (I did find a new We need this bill to remain in economy, there’s no way to know job at half the pay). effect, and the changes that have been proposed need to go into ef- how long it will take her to find I changed over to my wife’s in- fect as soon as possible. gainful employment with benefits. surance because it was a better However, thanks to the Health- plan but then due to the economy My daughter can live a happy, care Reform Bill, we can put her there was a chance she might lose productive life as long as she con- on our insurance plan upon her her job or the cost of her insurance tinues to receive the medical care graduation. She has several pre- would go up (to where we couldn’t she needs. existing conditions and it would afford it, we still have children), so She went to Washington, DC to be extremely expensive, if even again I chose not to be treated to speak to our representatives about possible, to purchase private insur- conceal my existing disease. what it means to live with these ance for her. Thank you, President My condition continued to get conditions and not have access to Obama. worse but I could not take the health care. She advocates for chil- chance of being identified with a dren like herself, raises awareness pre-existing condition in case we and participates in fundraising to lost our medical insurance. The support local charities that help treatment for MS is long term and children like herself. expensive so I can not afford to Please please please let’s not start any treatment until our insur- allow anyone to backtrack on this ance situation is stable. I did not major accomplishment. want to take the chance of bank- Our children’s lives depend on rupting my family because eventu- it. ally I would need treatment just to survive. And ours may well depend on it too. With the new health care laws I can now start treatment to slow down the progression of the dis- Susan (Merritt Island) Ed (Florida) ease without the fear of finan- My daughter will be gradu- Two years ago I was diagnosed cially devastating the future of our ating from college in December with MS (multiple sclerosis). I had family. I do not understand how 2011. Having taken a little longer insurance but chose to not get any human being can believe that than most to get through school, treated to hide the fact that I had making a profit off of the misfor- she will be 24 at that time. The last a pre-existing condition because tune of others is morally accept- two years, we had purchased the my managers position was going able.

14 MomsRising.org GEORGIA

Kathleen (Norcross) As a Juvenile-onset Type I Dia- betic diagnosed at age 6, I am in- credibly relieved I no longer have the same worries with my two kids, who might inherit diabetes, as my parents did – that their insurance for me would get rescinded. I am so thankful to President Obama and the senators and representa- tives who passed healthcare re- form legislation that starts chang- ing things for the better!

Barbara (Woodstock) We have lived for the last 6 years, keeping an adult child alive. She is a Type 1 Diabetic, with 2 MomsRising members flex their muscles for health care reform in Baltimore. other metabolic disorders affecting her health. across from where my husband and Peter (Kennesaw) The cost of medications, sup- I sleep each night. I made an appointment with an plies, medical management ap- That thankfully, will no longer be orthodontist for my son, who is 18 pointments as well as management the case this year. The PICP or Pre- years old. Our insurance company tools, according to the American existing Condition Program, has ac- is already badgering us to “prove” Diabetic Association’s website, run he is a full-time student or they cepted her, and she will receive the in the neighborhood of $20,000 per will cut him from our health insur- coverage denied her before this law year. My daughter’s yearly cost was ance policy. came to be. This coverage was de- anywhere between $23,000 and nied to her by the insurance compa- While discussing how the pro- $29,000 a year because of her other nies we rely upon in this country to posed orthondic procedure would conditions. provide access to care. be paid, I explained to the lady at Because she is an adult – and the orthodontist’s office that the was uninsured and uninsurable – new Health Care Reform Act man- these expenses not only fell to us, G Kay (Marietta) dates that insurers allow children but there was no tax deduction for My oldest daughter was kicked to remain on their parents’ poli- them. What this meant is that we off of our insurance when she turned cies until the age of 26 (the lady had to take $25,000 (or so) off the 24. She was still attending college did not seem to be aware of either top of our income and provide sup- part time and working as a server in the provisions of the Health Care port for 3 younger siblings as well. a restaurant almost full time. Unable Reform Act or of this particular provision). Type 1 Diabetes is not the same as to get health insurance until the en- the diabetes most often read about rollment period at the beginning of Young American adults without in the media and that is closely tied the new year, she did not have health permanent or full-time jobs have to diet and exercise. Type 1 is a ge- insurance for almost 6 months. We among the highest rates of being netically based and caused disease. could not afford to buy her individu- uninsured. While I certainly hope al coverage and she could not afford my son will remain in college un- Without the medical supplies, to pay for it herself. This was a very til graduation (and qualify for our the insulin, and the required medi- scary time for us! insurance policy that way), there cal supervision from highly trained certainly is no guarantee that ev- specialists both doctors and nurse We are very excited that we will erything will go according to plan. educators, etc, my daughter will die. not have to worry about this hap- She will not die in a far off distant pening again to our 22-year-old It is good to know Health Care future, but what can be counted off daughter and our 20-year-old son. Reform will allow him (and our as days. She will not die in a galaxy They can stay on our coverage until far, far away, but in the bedroom they are 26. What a relief!!! g

MomsRising.org 15 other children) to remain on our Trust me, the Georgia Medic- policy until age 26, by which time aid system, run through the state, “I’m so grateful they should be well on their way not the federal government, is toward succeeding in their chosen not something anybody wants to that my son, who careers and, hopefully, have a good have to use if there is any alterna- just turned 18, opportunity to obtain their own tive. With health care reform, he health insurance coverage. might have financial success and is still covered become a tax-paying member of on my insurance. society with decent health insur- Patricia (Norcross) ance. This has made My beloved five-year-old a real, important granddaughter has a rare life- threatening chronic condition. HAWAII difference in With twice-daily injections this our lives.” lovely bright child can live a nor- Edgar (Honolulu) mal, long and happy life. As an 80-year-old Korean War Marjanna, Idaho Falls, ID Without health care reform, veteran, I thank our government she could not have gotten insur- for Medicare, Social Security and ance as an adult unless it was in Veterans Health Benefits. There- a large corporation, and then fore, I receive the essential ben- she would have lived in terror of efits which the recently enacted IDAHO losing her job. I thank President law on Health Care Reform pro- Emily (Boise) Obama every day for this precious vides. Please “Hands Off” on the My sister, who is 25, will have child’s future. Health Care Reform Law! health insurance for the next few I have a young nephew whose All Americans, young and old, months, until she turns 26, thanks Crohn’s disease has devastated need to sleep well at night know- to health care reform. She was able his body, but he is a wonderful ing that their medical and health to get back on my parents’ plan person with a bright mind and cares are there when they need starting January 1, 2011. Prior to delightful personality. Should them. Only then, can we become that she was on a high-premium, his disease relapse enough that pro-active in taking good care of high-deductible health insurance he could hold a job, he could be our health and wellbeing – by ex- plan to cover catastrophic events, thrown into the problem of hav- ercising daily, stop smoking and but it wasn’t much good for the ing to limit his income so that he obesity, eating nourishing food, day-to-day care many people end could stay on Medicaid. not worrying and sleeping well. up needing during flu season. She is a graduate student and getting by with assistantships – no health coverage offered through her jobs. She delayed some care, including having a broken tooth repaired, for over a year due to not having adequate medical and dental coverage. Her story is by no means ex- treme, but it shows how health care reform makes a huge differ- ence in individuals’ lives. I know that my parents are happier now that they know she has better cov- erage! Kids of all ages benefit from health care reform, and the idea of a vote, however symbolic, to re- Virginia MomsRising members meet with Senate staff about the health care peal it is abhorrent. The legislation needs of families. passed with bipartisan support,

16 MomsRising.org reflecting the will of the people. husband and I have always been Health insurance for both of The outcome of one election day working people. We paid into the us would literally take 80% of my doesn’t change that. I say, no vot- system and yet, we were put in a income – and we don’t have any ing to take away other people’s position that could have devastat- pre-existing conditions. That would coverage unless you’re willing to ed us. We cannot go back to “pre- leave us barely anything for food, give yours up in solidarity! Any existing condition” clauses. That is and not enough to pay rent or utili- takers? completely unfair and completely ties. We would need to go on wel- destroys families. fare to survive. Marjanna (Idaho Falls) Thankfully I live in Illinois, so I’m so grateful that my son, my son is covered by the KidCare who just turned 18, is still covered (CHIP) program. He gets yearly on my insurance. He works part check ups and gets to the dentist, time, but is certainly not earning and if there’s an emergency, I could enough to pay for his own health get him the care he needs. For me insurance. Thank you so much for as a mother, that is HUGE. I know changing the laws so I can keep I can keep my son safe, and that him on my insurance plan. This has means the world. made a real, important difference in our lives.

“With the new ILLINOIS Nan (Chicago) health care Carol (Chicago Heights) I am the co-owner of an inde- reform my Long ago, my husband and pendent record label in Chicago. business will see I both had medical insurance My small business covers 100% of through the same company. We the health insurance costs for our approximately were told by the insurance com- staff of 7. With the new health $12,000 in tax pany that we could put my baby care reform my business will see daughter and me on his policy and approximately $12,000 in tax cred- credits. In this drop mine so I could stop working. its. In this economy, that kind of economy, that I was pregnant at the time with our tax credit will make a huge differ- second daughter. ence for our company and allow us kind of tax credit After we dropped my insurance, to invest more in our business. will make a huge they refused to cover my daughter and me, apologizing for their mis- difference for our take. My daughter had surgery a Margaret (Chicago) company...” couple of months prior and I was I’m a responsible, hardworking pregnant. Both my baby daughter divorced mother. I have two jobs, Nan, Chicago, IL and I went without medical insur- one as a part time teacher, one ance for about nine months. I had working for a non-profit, training to wait until my pregnancy ended ex-offenders in green jobs skills so and she had to wait one year from they can find productive work in- In the past, I just haven’t gone the date of her surgery for a “pre- stead of returning to crime. to the doctor myself, because I just can’t afford it. What if I do get sick existing condition” clause. My I’m a graduate student, working or hurt? What will happen to my pregnancy was covered under a on my Ph.D. I grow a lot of our own son then? I need to stay healthy to clinic, however my daughter and I food in our organic garden. I don’t keep him safe. With health reform, were stuck without medical insur- drink or smoke or do drugs. I don’t I hope to be able to get some ba- ance for about nine months. blow money or laze around watch- sic coverage for myself, at least for That was a very scary time for ing TV (we don’t own a TV!). But I emergencies and occasional check my husband and me. What if ei- can’t afford health care for my ten- ups. ther of us became ill or had an ac- year-old son or for myself. One of cident? I prayed that all would be my employers has no benefits; one I’m not trying to abuse any sys- well and, thankfully, it was. That has benefits that cost 1/3 my yearly should never be the situation. My salary just for me. g

MomsRising.org 17 tem or let anyone else carry my for everyone! We don’t mind pay- of 20 because she is living at home weight. I do public service work ing extra in taxes to guarantee cov- and would not have been able to which saves my community money erage. It’s a lot better than paying get any insurance because she now by reducing crime and pollution a horrendous monthly amount only has a pre-existing condition. She and getting people off the welfare to be told that after all that money CAN continue to be covered now. rosters. It will also save my commu- you’ve paid in, that they refuse to Thanks be to God!!!! nity money to keep me healthy. cover tests or medications or even If I get hurt or sick without in- surgery. We are guaranteed the surance, the cost of emergency care pursuit of happiness, but we can’t coupled with disability, childcare, be happy if we’re not healthy! etc would far outstrip the occasion- al checkups and medicine health Gretchen (Dwight) reform can offer me. By keeping When my husband’s union work my son and I healthy, health reform virtually disappeared because of not only saves tax payers any cost the economy, so did our health of delayed or unpaid emergency insurance. He continued to work care, but allows me to keep work- hard, but couldn’t make enough on ing for my community’s greater his own to afford the astronomical good and gives my family the secu- COBRA payments. We ended up Hannah (Elgin) rity we need to thrive. Doesn’t that with expensive catastrophic insur- I’m not a mom, but I sure am benefit all of us? ance that didn’t cover any of the glad I have one who’s still willing to kinds of medical care our family help me out at 24! Like many of my classmates, I found myself woefully Catherine (Highland) needed. We had two small children who needed regular medical care, unemployed after working my butt Health care concern has domi- which became either inaccessible off in school for 17 years. nated my life path. I was not able or difficult to afford. I was also to choose the profession I wanted In addition to being unable to struggling with my health, going because I was forced to work where afford my monthly student loans without treatment that would have I would have good health coverage and the general feelings of inad- added to our debt. After years of for the whole family. Why? Because equacy that come with unemploy- this, we were finally able to get in- my husband is a small business ment, I found myself without insur- surance through our State’s AllKids owner. I harbor intense resentment ance. I spent the next 20 months program. that, in essence, I had no choice but rationing contacts and praying I to protect him and our children. All Knowing that more people will didn’t get anything worse than a my friends in Italy and Spain have have access to insurance because cold. coverage all the time. of the Health Reform Bill makes It was weird; something I had me feel better about this country. Now my kids are grown (read: taken so for granted was now con- It is a tragedy when a human need over 26), and thank goodness they stantly in the back of my mind. I was becomes something that only those have health care through their afraid of twisting my ankle while with money are allowed. I feel that work. However, for nearly two hiking, of cutting my finger while the bill, while not perfect, is a step years for each of them after they cooking, of catching anything that in the right direction. graduated college, we had to pur- required antibiotics. I missed the chase term insurance outright. security of knowing that if some- When one son entered grad school thing went wrong, that I could just Georgiann (Chicago) go get help. we had to help him find health I have granddaughter who just care to supplement the state uni- turned age 20 and was diagnosed On January 1st of this year versity’s meager coverage. Finally, with Ewing’s Sarcoma at age 14. I was able to get back onto my today’s families no longer have to After 4 hospitals, many surgeries, mom’s insurance thanks to health- stress out because their kids aren’t chemo etc. she is living at home care reform. As I rang in 2011 the covered. right now and cannot work or go first words out of my mouth were, I am so thankful today for my to school. This situation would “Happy New Year! I HAVE INSUR- grandkids that they cannot be dis- have been a disaster if not for ANCE!!!” allowed because of asthma and se- Health Reform. She would have With all of the uncertainty in my vere allergies. I am Celiac and have been dropped from her father’s in- life right now, it’s so nice to have asthma. Health care is important surance when she reached the age at least this one thing off my mind.

18 MomsRising.org INDIANA us, we noticed a sore on the top of her head that wouldn’t heal. The Pamela (New Albany) health insurance plan her employer As the mother of two asthmat- provided was too expensive for her ics, I was truly glad the healthcare to afford on part time wages, so she reform bill has passed and will didn’t get it. She couldn’t afford the protect my daughters from dis- expense of an office visit, so she just crimination from insurance com- didn’t go. panies. In late 2002, she finally was able My oldest daughter graduated to get affordable health insurance. from college, making her ineli- She went to the doctor about the gible to continue on her father’s sore. It was cancer, and it had al- insurance coverage. ready spread throughout her body. She had only months to live. Rachel Stand alone plans would not died in 2003, at the age of 40. If she cover any illnesses that could be as- could have afforded to go to the sociated with her asthma, whether doctor’s office in 2001, she probably it be a cold, sinus infection, what- would have lived. Her children were ever – not hospital stays, prescrip- Donna from MomsRising and Thao only teenagers. tions, doctor visits, nothing. from NWLC join rally in front of the U.S. Capitol. With the new healthcare re- form her sister will be able to stay Kimberlee (Atlantic) on our insurance whether we can IOWA I have 2 reasons to be grateful afford full time college tuition or for the passage of health reform: not, and she will be able to pur- Elizabeth (Creston) My husband and I had to drop chase insurance through a pool Watching my friends without our health insurance two years ago that will actually benefit her. health care suffer is a horrible because it just didn’t fit in the bud- Both of these reforms are a true thing to witness... missed work, get, closed a business this year, and blessing to ours and many families. missed school, distracted and sickly have been blessed to have an in- Thank you President Obama and children, stressed and constantly in come of $400 a month to count on Congress. debt to medical offices is no way to for a year while we get back on our live in this country. Especially if you feet. The promise of more afford- are working nearly 40 hours/week able healthcare insurance is encour- Joe (Indianapolis) and often more. aging for the day when we have I’m a grandfather with four For those who have choices, I enough income again to afford grandchildren. My newest grand- ask you to be grateful and not rob coverage more easily. For us and the son is 10-days old. WITHOUT the those less fortunate of the same 40+ million Americans without cov- new health care reform act, if he opportunity. erage, thank you. had been born with any defects The second is the gratitude I feel or health problems, they would Millions of working, tax paying that two of our children, 20 and 23, NOT have been covered because families go years without or very will be able to remain on their Dad’s my daughter’s insurance compa- little health care. That is not the insurance policy until 26 with the ny stated they would have been promise of America. physical and mental peace of mind considered PRE-EXISTING CONDI- Accessible and affordable that they have coverage in place to TIONS. healthcare is not a privilege, it is a graduate from college, grad school, I supported the health care re- civil rights issue and nothing short and strike out on their own to be- form act because no parent should of the pursuit of happiness. gin their careers. This brings us, as have to face such consequences, parents, peace of mind, too. especially when they lead healthy We are VERY GRATEFUL for the lives themselves. Elaine (Iowa City) When I moved to Iowa in 2001, courage, tenacity, forethought, WITH the new health care re- I met a woman named Rachel at hope, and leadership you have form bill THIS POTENTIAL PROB- church. We soon became friends. She brought to the passage of health- LEM WAS ERASED. even lived with us for a few months care reform. THANK YOU. Thankfully, my grandson was while she was going through a diffi- born with good health. cult time. While she was living with g

MomsRising.org 19 KENTUCKY insurance, because of the pre-exist- ing conditions that many insurance Jesse (Lexington) companies impose on new policy I have a daughter who has suf- holders. Health care reform has re- fered from Chronic Fatigue Syn- moved this great worry from our drome for the past 20 years, and shoulders. Now, we know that our for most of that time has had no son can continue to receive the cov- health insurance, since she hasn’t erage he needs even if he switches been able to hold a regular job. insurance companies, or has a gap Only in the last two years did she in coverage at some point. finally get some health insurance through a state sponsored insur- ance pool in Pennsylvania, where LOUISIANA she lives. But it does not cover pre-existing conditions, so most of Candida (New Orleans) her expenses are still not covered. Health care tax credits have Since she has only a tiny income, I sure helped my husband’s small pay her medical expenses. business. My husband is an attor- KANSAS ney who was with a larger law We’re very greatful for the new firm for 45 years. Now that he is 72 Elaine (Wichita) Federal law mandating that cover- he has formed a smaller firm and Our 18-month-old granddaugh- age of pre-existing conditions can works with two other attorneys. ter was born prematurely, with no longer be excluded. Though I significant physical problems. She can help her now, what would she Health care has always been has spent almost half her life in do otherwise in the future, when provided to employees, not the at- the hospital and depends upon I’m no longer here, and her medi- torneys, in both of his firms. Em- breathing and gastric feed tubes. cal problems increase as she ages? ployees have individual policies With her physical therapies and It’s wonderful that the U.S. is fi- because neither of his law firms could afford, nor was eligible for, multiple surgeries she will gradu- nally joining the other 1st world group insurance policies because ally develop her own capacities IF, countries in properly covering the of pre-existing conditions among AND ONLY IF, her insurance com- health needs of all it’s citizens. attorneys and/or their family pany stays with her. members. As a result we person- She is currently within a month ally pay $16,000 per year to cover of hitting her lifetime cap. The me with COBRA high-risk insur- family is deferring as much care ance because of pre-existing con- as possible, trying to reach the ditions. I was “lucky” to get that. I date in September when caps are am about to go on Medicare thank no longer permitted under health goodness. care reform. This aspect of health We are huge advocates of care reform is, literally, the life- Health Care Reform. As soon as saving hope for our beautiful little changes kick in to insure the mil- Sophia Grace Sunde. lions of people with pre-existing conditions the overwhelming ben- efits will be obvious to all. Insuring Nicole (Lawrence) everyone will be a small price to I have a 6-month-old baby, and Khadija (Louisville) pay. Thanks! my husband and I are finding it My daughter had aged out of hard to pay off our bill from the our previous policy and currently hospital when he was born. Even has a job that does not provide cov- Sara (Lafayette) though we have health insurance, erage. We were able to cover her Our daughter Sonja was taken the co-pays for our baby’s doctor again thanks to health care reform. off our healthcare plan when she checkups and vaccinations have Also, my son has Juvenile Dia- was about 18 months old due to added a lot to our medical expens- betes. We have struggled to make an administrative error. She had al- es. With the new laws taking effect sure he had no gap in coverage, most been off it for 60 days before as of Jan 1, our vaccinations will even at times when most of our now be fully covered. income was going to pay health g

20 MomsRising.org we were notified. We could correct can get insurance. She can no lon- Mariana (Bethesda) the error on time, but it was nerve ger be treated like a second-class I have two sons, who are 21 years wracking not having her insured citizen just because she got sick 10 old, as well as other family members even for a few weeks! years ago. Thank you for support- including myself, with some preex- If she had been uninsured for ing this reform. isting conditions who are now in- more than 60 days, it would have sured. My sons have been unable created a pre-existing condition to attend college or find a full time making it very difficult to get her job with health insurance seamlessly back on our plan. It made me think since high school. Their only chance of all those parents in America who of keeping an insurance plan is be- have children that they cannot get ing covered by our family plan cur- insured due to pre-existing condi- rently, that is the same for me. tions. Prior to health reform I was ter- Such a shame for the wealthi- rified that we could not provide for est country in the word to let profit our children (and even for ourselves) rule over children’s health and adequately for their health needs. well-being. When the law passed, I felt for the first time in my life that the play- ing field was beginning to become Claudius (Shreveport) more leveled for all citizens in the We have a grown daughter, age US – as it already is in so many other 50, who has been a stay at home developed countries, like Canada mom, tutoring her now grown chil- and England and other European dren. She returned to school after nations, which recognize that ac- the children were grown and has cess to health is a human right, and obtained a master’s degree. She not just a privilege for the lucky or was gainfully employed with group wealthy ones. insurance when she came down Kirsten (South Berwick) Without the health reform act, with Rheumatoid Arthritis. We no longer worry about the under whose provisions our private As a latecomer to the job mar- day our insurance will inform us insurance covers my sons and my- ket, she does not have 40 quarters our daughter has reached her cap, self presently, we would be unin- of employment. She cannot obtain or she is too old to stay on our surable or “carved out” of relevant medical coverage in our present heath insurance but unable to get benefits, and be left even without system. Her husband abandoned her own because of her pre-exist- chance of obtaining ANY (let alone her when she became ill. No one ing condition. We no longer worry affordable) health insurance and will employ her and no insurance about what will happen should we would have to go without needed company will insure her. Her plight need to change employment. Our health care and/or become bank- is not so very different from many 6-year-old daughter with arthritis rupt or both. other citizens with various disabili- is now protected and safe. Thank As a citizen, a mother, a physi- ties. We need coverage for EVERY- you! cian and a voter (and tax payer) I ONE. And everyone cannot afford would be embarrassed to say I live to pay for it. in the USA if the health reform act MARYLAND were to be repealed, as it would T (Lanham) tell me that Congress likes the sta- MAINE tus quo before health reform. For A heart problem was discovered Congress to allow this to happen to Katie (South Portland) just when my daughter was los- our family and to millions of others My mom has been trying to buy ing health insurance coverage. Her in our same condition who are citi- private insurance for years but kept medical bill was $7,000 for an ER zens of a rich industrialized country getting turned down because she visit. She has worked to pay off the such as ours, this would be more had cancer 10 years ago. She has bill but has not been able to have than shameful, it would be a crime been fine and last year her oncol- the continued care appointments against humanity. ogist even told her she no longer due to no coverage. Thanks to Pres- needed to have annual visits. That ident Obama allowing us to put her Can you PLEASE NOT REPEAL wasn’t enough for the health insur- back on our insurance she is able to ance companies. Now she finally get a check up. g

MomsRising.org 21 ated from college some years ago. I to her (and to us) knowing that had a job but no benefits. I got sick she could not be denied coverage “As a parent of and went to the emergency room. in the future because of her ill- For a one hour trip (and five min- ness and that she could stay on our a 5-year-old with utes with a doctor) I was charged health insurance well into her 20s, chronic illness, I $1000. That was my paycheck for meaning that her choices about the month. Later, when looking her occupational and educational wept tears of joy for individual life insurance, I was pathways would be less dictated by when health care denied at 24 years old because I health care coverage. And we are take synthetic thyroid hormone very fortunate that these are our reform passed. every day and need a blood test concerns, rather than those of par- A much wider once a year to keep the hormone ents who have been bankrupted by steady. This “pre-existing condi- what it takes to manage this chron- world of possibilites tion” was considered cause for de- ic illness because of the old health opened up to nial. So I lived without health in- care policies. My daughter’s future surance until age 27. I’m lucky that is much brighter now. Don’t take her (and to us) I remained fairly healthy. Needless that away from her and the many, knowing that she to say, when I finally got dental in- many other Americans whose fu- surance, I needed a lot of work! tures got a whole lot brighter the could not be day health care reform passed. denied coverage in the future...” MICHIGAN

Emily, Baltimore, MD Jo Von (Springport) My husband, son and I all have preexisting conditions and couldn’t not get health insurance. Thank health reform!!!!! It is our family’s God for this bill. My husband and lifeline and you would be doing I have Medicare, which still doesn’t families like ours a tremendous dis- cover some of medications, and service!!!! my son had Medicaid, but only un- I feel that only thus will our leg- til he’s 21. He was a preemie and islators be voting from a “level the has several complications because playing field”, and they might bet- of this. One of them is asthma. ter appreciate the risks, for them- MASSACHUSETTS We couldn’t afford his medication selves and for our families, through- without some kind of coverage. It’s out this debate. Kris (New Bedford) terrible to think that if we had no My son has a genetic disorder As a doctor and parent, I am type of medical coverage we would called Williams syndrome. The desperate to preserve the access to have to choose between food, night the Affordable Care Act was health insurance and health services housing or his medications. NO passed was the best night’s sleep for my entire family and, as a public ONE SHOULD EVER BE PUT IN THIS I’d had in the three years since he health professional, I shudder at the POSITION. was diagnosed. If the House does risk that our country’s present and repeal this, shame on them. We future health needs and disparities should not live in fear of losing will grow, and continue unmet were Cheryl (Okemos) coverage for children with pre-ex- health reform to be repealed. I ap- Our employer (Michigan State isting conditions, or of reaching a University) re-wrote health care preciate your most thoughtful con- lifetime limit on benefits. sideration on this request!!!!! Many coverage to exclude conditions thanks! that kids are born with after our Renee (Lexington) son with special needs was born. As the parent of a 5-year-old This then excluded him from cov- Emily (Baltimore) with a chronic illness (cystic fibro- erage for therapies (physical, oc- I wish that the option to remain sis) I wept tears of joy when health cupational, speech and language, on my parents’ health insurance care reform passed. A much wider had been available when I gradu- world of possibilities opened up g

22 MomsRising.org orientation and mobility, etc) as a toddler that he had received as an infant, all because he was born with rather than acquired his con- dition after birth. The new law would have reinstated access for him.

Jennifer (Ontonagon) My younger sister is now able to be on my parents insurance for a bit longer. Her job does not offer health insurance. She is a caregiver to el- derly in a home setting and puts in way over 40 hour weeks. I remember being dropped from my parent’s in- scheduled for a pacemaker. This emergency room for days to be surance during college. I didn’t go to was weeks after Julie would have monitored before her pacemaker the doctor or the dentist and paid been dropped from my health was put in? As I feared for her out of pocket for my eye appoint- insurance. I can’t even allow my- life and her recovery, the stress ments. I was lucky there never was self to think of what would have of wondering whether or not she an emergency and I was healthy. happened. Julie needed a very could have even gotten the help unique pacemaker that was just she needed was not a thought I could fathom. What is sad is that MINNESOTA approved in the U.S. in May of 2010. Would we have been able I know for many families, these Lisa (Minneapolis) to find a local cardiologist famil- kinds of worries are so very real. A few years ago my daughter Julie looked at me the day after Julie was diagnosed with an ill- her pacemaker was put in and said ness called Dysautonomia and “Mom, look at my fingernails!” I Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia said, “Why?” She said, “Mom, (POTS). Julie had numerous hos- “As my fears of they’re pink!” It had been a long pital visits requiring many tests something really time since blood had reached her and procedures. The costs were extremities. Holding her warm astronomical. serious happening hand after surgery, warmed my heart. As I stared at the heart Julie continued to be covered to Julie now under my insurance through my dissipate, my monitor now pulsing with a reg- employer who provided a great ularity I hadn’t seen all week, I plan. Julie’s insurance was to fears increase for swear I could see the changes in soon come to an end because of Julie when I think her face as the blood seemed to her age but her illness was get- be bringing the needed oxygen ting worse and Julie’s health de- about health care to her every part of her body. Ju- teriorated severely at the end of reform being lie’s heart is now beating more 2010. Julie was blacking out daily regularly and helped daily by her and unable to continue work or repealed.” pacemaker. She is not completely school. There were days when she healed. The coming months will only had the energy to crawl to Lisa, Minneapolis, MN show how many of the symptoms the bathroom. Julie had a heart of Dysautonomia remain. Since monitor installed as her doctors the pacemaker though she has believed there was a possible un- not blacked out which previously was an almost daily occurrence derlying heart condition. iar with dysautonomia? Would rendering her unable to do al- On January 11th I got a phone we have been able to request a most anything most days. call that Julie’s monitor revealed specific pacemaker that her car- episodes of 100% heart block diologist in Toledo recommend- As my fears of something real- which could result in sudden car- ed? Would she have been able diac arrest. She was immediately to be admitted after going to the g

MomsRising.org 23 ly serious happening to Julie now on the private market would be dissipate, my fears increase for Ju- willing to insure us. Under COBRA lie when I think about health care “A reversal of this I had a quick and easy delivery and reform being repealed. legislation could now I had - gasp! - a healthy 12 pound, two month old baby, and She is a beautiful grown young be the last straw my COBRA benefits were set to ex- woman but to me still my baby girl pire. Can you guess what happens and deserving of health care that for us. Please don’t next? we are more than willing to pay take it away from for. We want nothing for free. I According to every health insur- just want to go to sleep at night us – we’re hanging ance company we reached out to knowing that in this wonderful on by a fingernail.” for family, non-group health insur- country called the United States ance, that gorgeous two-month old was too high a risk. Quite frankly, of America, with all of the bril- Mary Jo, Minneapolis, MN liant health care providers that he hadn’t “taken” yet. Still too we have here, my daughters can risky an investment... get health care when they need it. Since he was my baby and my insurance for our middle daughter husband’s child, insurance compa- so she went without health coverage nies would not accept either one for an entire year. We are so grate- of us either because of our asso- ful that she can now be on my hus- ciation, which meant my 4-year-old band’s insurance. daughter could not be added as When our son graduates in May a dependent. Not one of us could 11, he can now be covered through gain insurance due to this gor- us as well until he is able to secure geous, healthy, round little baby insurance for himself. boy. A reversal of this legislation could Fortunately the State of Minne- be the last straw for us. Please don’t sota enacted legislation, some time take it away from us – we’re hanging ago, which requires at least one on by a fingernail. health insurance company, under contract to the state, to provide Our deepest thanks to all who health insurance (at a significant Lauren (Maple Grove) fought so hard, worked so long, premium) to those that the private Health care reform guarantees and cared so much to get us on the market considers “uninsurable”. that my son with an ASD will not road to health care reform. Our chil- be denied coverage because of a We had the money to pay, while dren have a difficult enough future many do not, but I hugely appre- pre-existing condition. In addition, ahead of them. They will need all the he will no longer be subject to life- ciated having the Minnesota Com- strength, good health, and support prehensive Health Assistance, also time limits of coverage, a VERY real they can get and we CAN give them. possibility for a child with an ASD. known as the high-risk pool insur- Repealing this reform will have a ance OPTION for my family. catastrophic impact on our family Karen (Minneapolis) Last year we received a letter and my son’s life. My husband and I both worked from MCHA that its existence will for small organizations that paid us no longer be necessary in the com- Mary Jo (Minneapolis) well, but due to the sky rocketing ing years because an even larger insurance pool will be created My husband and I are struggling expenses of health care could not as a result of the Obama passed to get our youngest of three chil- offer group health insurance for Healthcare legislation, and MCHA dren through his last year of college. our small offices. My COBRA even- redundant. I could not be happier; Our older two children have college tually ran out from my previous I suspect our premiums will, one loans they are unable to pay so it university job. We considered job day, greatly decrease as our pool of falls to us. Soon we will have loans to moves for the purposes of continu- “uninsurable” increases. pay for all three college educations ing insurance but easier said than since they are unable to find work done. More importantly I think of that pays well enough to pay back The truth is we could afford, other people, working for small loans let alone buy health insurance. theoretically, insurance; it’s just Until now, we could not get health that no health insurance company g

24 MomsRising.org children on my insurance, even if they were now over 18 and not stu- dents. I was able to get her insur- ance coverage for the first time in three years. Even though it is costly it is not as costly as it would have been trying to find coverage for her on her own. So thank you for the health care reform.

MISSOURI

Phil (Columbia) My son has an inherited genetic eye condition called retinitis pig- mentosa. I can’t tell you all how A Maryland MomsRising member meets with former Speaker Pelosi before the relieved we are that he can no vote on the ACA. longer be denied coverage for this pre-existing condition! We’re not employers (the engine of econom- the school days because of her ill- looking for “cadillac” coverage ic growth) who happen to find nesses and hospitalizations. She is and our days are filled with learn- themselves in a situation like ours, a mighty soul who someday will ing Braille against the day when 35-years-old, biological clocks tick- make a meaningful contribution the disease may make things come ing, COBRA benefits expiring and to her society – if she is allowed to that, working with our school having to make hard choices, espe- to survive. concerning his existing visual im- cially ones that don’t live in a state Thanks to the healthcare re- pairments, and locating and buy- where the government requires form, we no longer have to worry ing the technology necessary for at least one insurance company to about her outrunning the lifetime him to learn (none of which, by the provide coverage to their families. cap on her benefits; we can see way, is covered by insurance or the How’s that family friendly? that she’ll be able to stay on her government). To not be able to get In short, if people want to look parents’ insurance until she gets him care, however, would seem a at a family that benefits from launched on her own career; we cruel blow to all concerned. This Obama Care, just look at my family. can see that she won’t have her shouldn’t be a difficult issue for Minnesota has been doing Obama career start preempted by an em- our politicians or the media. And Care for sometime. ployer’s fearing a crushing bill for yet. employee medical insurance. We are a middle income, mar- ried couple, making a comfortable Thank God for this president Sharon (Manchester) and this Congress for their cour- income who can’t beg, borrow or I have a 22-year-old son that age in passing this healthcare re- steal enough to gain the attention/ has health issues. Right now, I can form! interest of ANY health insurance buy coverage for him under my company, simply, because, among healthcare plan. But in May, he’ll other things, we were recently graduate and without the current pregnant and now have a sweet provision in the Healthcare Bill, he little boy. MISSISSIPPI would no longer be eligible for coverage under my plan. Sharon (Oxford) Bob (Saint Cloud) It would have been so wonder- In this depressed job market, We have a nine-year-old ful to have my daughter under his outlook for becoming em- granddaughter with a very com- a doctor’s care for various things ployed WITH healthcare benefits is plex set of medical problems: ce- but when she turned 18, she got not very good. And with a break rebral palsy, dystonia, immune married, and then dropped out in healthcare coverage, he would deficiency, etc. She’s an angelic, of school. She could no longer be probably be uninsurable due to his bright child. Last year she ended covered under her dad’s insurance. ‘pre-existing condition’ – a move up at the top of her third-grade This year, my employer offered the class despite missing over half option to get coverage for adult g

MomsRising.org 25 did not provide health care, and a plan because if insurance companies doctor from the local public hos- can put a cap on coverage, I will sure- “After having pital was trying to get a pump for ly die. surgery to correct him. She was working as fast as pos- I was ecstatic when the health- sible, but it was too late. She called care plan went through since I felt (my daughter’s) about 3 weeks after he died to let that I had a chance at surviving to breathing him know that he needed to come retirement age when I could go on in for an appointment, she might problems, she Medicare. There are thousands of be able to get one for him. She was people out there just like me who now is able to go devastated. not only have to fight major illness- through with Hopefully, this senario will never es, but we also have to fight to have take place again after we get in- insurance coverage since the doctors her plan to surance for those with pre-existing and hospitals will not treat us with- join the conditions. out insurance coverage. Please save my life and others and don’t repeal Air Force.” the new healthcare plan. Thank you. Christi (Kansas City) Emi, Lincoln, NE I have multiple autoimmune disorders which have come to light since I got my health insurance over 10 years ago. If I were to change that could affect his insurability for jobs, I would be denied insurance if the next 60 years! the Affordable Care Act were over- If the healthcare bill, or even turned. If it were overturned, cover- this single provision, were to be re- age for certain tests and treatments pealed, our family would undoubt- would likely be dropped because of edly be placed in financial jeopardy expense. We cannot go back to the trying to provide continued cover- way it was. NEBRASKA age for our son and possibly force us to become a statistic in the next Emi (Lincoln) foreclosure surge. My 20-year-old daughter was Repealing Health Reform would able to continue to be covered by be the undoing of everything that our insurance after having to with- my husband and I have worked to draw from college this fall. She had achieve for the past 35 years and my a badly deviated septum from 15 son’s continued health. years of playing soccer paired with badly configured cheek sinuses that For their own partisan reasons, caused her immense problems with they are making hard-working, breathing and continuous sinus Middle Class Americans ‘collateral infections. She had surgery to fix damage’ by trying to take this right these things just before Christmas. to healthcare away from my son! This would not have happened without HCR. She told me the other Teri (Raytown) day that she could breathe through It is entirely too late for the child her nose for the first time in years. of my best friend because he passed Aside from these issues, she has away. He couldn’t get insurance be- MONTANA exercise-induced asthma (that was cause he had juvenile diabetes since mainly due to the deviated sep- age three. Even when his mom had Kim (Laurel) tum/sinus problems). These things a job that provided health insur- I am approaching the time when would have been pre-existing con- ance, everything would be covered my insurance could run out since I ditions that would have prevented unless it was “diabetic related”. have been battling multiple myelo- her from getting coverage on her Well, he was never sick except for ma for the past five years and have own. diabetic related illnesses. had two stem cell transplants. Please He was 29, working at a job that do not repeal the new healthcare g

26 MomsRising.org After having surgery to correct years yet still could not get insur- health insurance so I could keep my her breathing problems, she now is ance at ANY PRICE on my own! coverage. Had I ever let it lapse, my able to go through with her plan to kids and I would have lost cover- join the Air Force. age. Mari (Reno) That is one way Health Care Re- After my daughter went into form has impacted MY family al- remission for cancer, her insurance NEW HAMPSHIRE ready. company was trying to drop her. They said they would only continue John (Hampstead) NEVADA coverage if she were in school full- I’ve had two procedures done time. It was impossible for her to be on my heart since 2008. Valerie (Boulder City) in school fulltime when she was still If I needed another, and was I am a Speech Language Pa- suffering the effects of chemo. Now turned down, due to “pre-existing thologist in the fifth largest school that the reform is in place, we no condition” my family would be in district in the nation, Clark County longer have to battle the insurance financial ruins. The first procedure School District, Las Vegas, Nevada. company to keep her on the rolls. was $60,000! Approximately 350 young people I, myself, have a pre-existing (the sons and daughters of my col- condition for which I could not be Bill (Bradford) leagues under age 26) now have covered. Once the expanded Med- Both of my children, recent col- health insurance through our icaid goes into effect in 2014, I will lege graduates, are currently un- Teachers Health Trust. have affordable coverage. It gives employed. Because I am able to add My colleagues no longer have me piece of mind knowing I will them to my company health care the nagging fear that their sons not have to scramble to pay my plan, they will not have a break and daughters may need heath costs forever. I just have to ride it in their insurance. And they won’t care and that their families could out a little longer. I hope this isn’t have to pay a huge amount for sep- be bankrupted by medical bills. I taken away from me. It’s the first arate insurance. We all know how am hopeful that my students, many grain of hope I’ve had in a while risky it can be to go without cover- with developmental delays and that I will not die an early death age even for a few months. birth defects like cleft palate can from lack of treatment. no longer be considered to have “pre-existing conditions”. My stu- NEW JERSEY dents need to be healthy in order Patricia (Reno) to be ready to learn. Health Care My oldest granddaughter grad- Susan (Highland Park) Reform is benefitting students and uated from high school in June. We have a 24-year-old daughter teachers and impacts educational She was diagnosed with cancer a with bipolar disorder. Although achievement! few weeks later. Her college class- she is very bright, it’s been a real es were canceled and she is in a struggle for her to get through col- battle with this dreadful disease. lege, and at nearly 25 she is just fin- Janice (Henderson) She is eighteen. If she could not ishing her sophomore year because Pre-existing breast cancer diag- stay on her parents’ health insur- her condition makes it impossible nosis in 1998 prevented me from ance she would be responsible for for her to go to school full-time. getting insurance on my own. Been the cost. She would most likely Last year she aged out of eligi- covered by husband’s insurance never be able to get health insur- bility for coverage through my hus- ($,1000/mo. just for me, plus $5,000 ance again. Of course the health band’s policy, and we put her on deductible.) Husband is eligible for care reform is working! Medicare but could not apply as it COBRA for 2010. But we knew that would have left me uninsured for once she used up her COBRA eligi- the next 8 years until I turn 66. Pat (Reno) bility we’d be really stuck. With this and other pre-existing conditions Pre-existing conditions have af- Now I hope to be able to apply (asthma and other issues), we’d fected me and everyone I know. A for and be able to purchase my own never find decent private coverage child with epilepsy, cancer, or other insurance so he can go on Medicare. for her. Keep your fingers crossed! Thank illness is doomed without health- you President Obama for requir- care. This seems the most impor- She cannot be without her ing insurance companies to cover tant aspect of the current law. As medications and appropriate coun- people with pre- existing illnesses. a single parent with 4 children, I I have been cancer free for over 12 often had to really skimp to pay for g

MomsRising.org 27 seling, and we just can’t afford to rich people, but we have some- when I say how thankful I am that pay for it all ourselves – the bipolar thing money can’t buy: Health. we can re-imagine and re-create meds that work for her are hugely We have watched a good friend’s space for his life and future, by expensive, and we would bankrupt cancer diagnosis destroy his fam- allowing him access to the medi- ourselves in short order. ily financially. We have watched as cines and care he needs. Thank The reform requiring adult chil- friends who need oral surgery or you – keep up the good fight! dren to be allowed to remain on heart surgery go out of the coun- their parents’ policies until age 26 try for treatment, and even then is a lifesaver for us – this way she’ll end up in a great deal of debt. get two more years on her dad’s A society as wealthy as ours policy, and then the COBRA count- that can’t take care of its mem- down starts all over again. After bers is a sick society. Health care that we may have to worry again reform is a start down the road to about what to do, but at least this recovery. buys us time, and maybe she’ll be able to support herself and have her own coverage by then. Sandra (Albuquerque) Our health insurance premium If health care reform is repealed, and co-pays actually decreased this we just don’t know how we’ll pay year with the new health care re- for her medications and therapy form bill. when her COBRA runs out. Debra (New York City) I must confess that I never gave Gertrude (West Orange) much thought to health insur- Health care reform is already ance – until the time my son really helping me. My son is going to needed it. Having a very ill child another college and has to take a really opens up one’s eyes. semester off to transfer. Because of health care reform, I can keep I have a college-age son who him on my insurance and not have was diagnosed with a rare and to pay the extremely high cost for aggressive form of bone cancer in Cobra. This is saving me over $200 2009 and is still undergoing (very a month. costly) cancer treatment. This di- agnosis was, needless to say, a to- If people would stop listening tal shock to our entire family, as to the media and read they would he was always a healthy child and understand that health care re- adolescent, with no family history form is long over due and truly of any such cancer. needed in the US. Thankfully – after a period I thank the Obama administra- NEW YORK when we were uninsured due the tion for finally getting this done. fact that my husband’s employer The people with insurance cover- Emily (Livonia) had gone of out of business and age have been picking up the tab My son has asthma, and through- therefore COBRA coverage was for everyone to receive medical out his life we have faced frighten- unavailable – we had acquired care for a long time. Every Ameri- ing struggles to maintain his health coverage shortly before the can must have health care cover- and occasionally his life itself. The dreaded diagnosis. age so over time our rates can de- guarantee that we can access insur- crease. I shudder to think what would ance without denial based on this have happened if we had not condition is absolutely critical to us been insured. Fortunately, my and to our entire country. Without NEW MEXICO son received outstanding care at his medicines, my amazing, intel- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer ligent, beautiful 9-year-old boy Bob (Espanola) Center, which accepts our insur- could die. So far, our family is one of the ance. lucky ones. We have good insur- This is a life and death situa- ance that we don’t use. We are not tion, and I write from my heart g

28 MomsRising.org I am so thankful for the health Danielle (Rome) insurance reforms which will en- Without this, my sweet son, sure that my son is able to remain Wyatt, will not be assured a fair on our family coverage past col- chance at life because of his Type lege. And I am equally grateful 1 Diabetes, a disease that is NOT that my son will be able to secure preventable. A disease that is his own insurance in the future manageable but costly, and insur- even though he has a serious pre- ance relieves us of some of that existing condition. The denial of cost. affordable health care to a cancer Repealing this would put my patient is a death sentence. son, and countless other innocent Moreover, health insurers children, who are plagued with need far more oversight and pa- preexisting conditions, at risk for Tania (Willard) tients need the right to seek re- their life. They say they are the Our son Teddy was born at 25 dress without fear of their cover- voice of the people? Well, what weeks weighing 1lb 7oz and spent age being dropped. Dealing with about the people that are not al- 6 1/2 months in the NICU. There the seemingly automatic denials lowed to have a voice, the Ameri- were many days we were not sure of coverage by health insurance can children! companies has been very diffi- he would survive. When he came cult. Imagine how it feels to find home he was on oxygen, apnea out that a procedure needed to Anne (New York City) monitor, pulse ox, feeding pump save your child’s life is deemed I am a small business owner who for g tube feedings, and required “not medically necessary” by your will benefit from the new health frequent suctioning. health insurance carrier. insurance plan. Today he is a happy almost 3 Finding out that one’s child I am desperately looking for- years old. Because he had so many is suffering from a life-threat- ward to being able to afford health issues at birth due to his age and ening disease is a nightmare be- care that will actually cover me in weight his hospital bill was very yond words. Seeing your child go the event of an illness and relieved big. Then we needed follow up through the pain and misery of to know that my insurance won’t care plus PT, OT and feeding thera- multiple surgeries, radiation and be rescinded in the event that I get py. To look at him you would never chemotherapy is heartbreaking. sick (which is the whole point of know all he has been through and That is an overwhelming burden getting health insurance. survived. for any family to have to bear; no I was ecstatic when Obama The insurance companies would parent in that position should ever passed healthcare reform. It is un- look at him and never see the sur- have to deal with the additional believable to me that there are vivor he is – they would see a long despair of being unable to secure people working to undo this his- list of preexisting conditions that health insurance necessary to save toric accomplishment. would make him pretty much unin- that child. It is truly a matter of life surable were my husband and I to and death. lose our jobs. It seems to me that for too NORTH CAROLINA long health care in America has been unduly influenced by health Jeanne (Boone) Sybil (Wrightsville Beach) insurance and pharmaceutical I am a small business owner and I work with homeless and lim- companies whose executives earn my health insurance costs have de- ited funds individuals – you cannot millions of dollars yearly for put- creased dramatically as a result of imagine the cost of ER visits, which ting profits over the health of the healthcare reform. I have always could be ended by preventive mea- very people they purport to serve. insisted that our health benefits sures, such a health clinics. It seems that the people they re- accommodate unlimited lifetime I know of many who do not ally serve are their shareholders, benefits so my employees and I go to get medical care until their not patients. The recently enacted don’t have to worry if struck with health is truly compromised, cost- a catastrophic illness. But this has health reform was a step in the ing far more than preventive med- right direction. It’s about time we been an expensive option. Now icine would cost. put people over profits. Anyone that all plans must include unlim- who’s walked in my shoes certainly ited benefits I have more and bet- would. ter options. g

MomsRising.org 29 you might consider a normal daily have to, that he’s strong and will life for an American baby. fight to be healthy, my son was His third year was full of de- facing a life-time of turmoil with regard to getting health insurance lightful successes. He graduated coverage. from all of his therapies, visited his oncologist twice for follow-ups Anyone who has had a cata- with nothing remarkable occur- strophic illness knows how hard it ring, and started preschool. He was can be to get or maintain health not just walking now, but running, insurance coverage even once that jumping, skipping, and hopping, illness is gone. As of September 23, with no pain whatsoever, and if 2010, that is no longer the case for you couldn’t see that his right leg Ethan. is a slightly different color than the The Affordable Care Act ensures left, you’d never know he had a that health plans can no longer lim- rough start. it or deny benefits or deny cover- But after achieving all of these age for my son because of his “pre- Felicia (Raleigh) milestones, it was his fourth year, existing condition”. Which is why My son, Ethan, has had a very which was welcomingly uneventful when we visited his oncologist in unusual first four years of life. as far as his health goes, that will October, it was an especially emo- Most of his first year was spent in likely have the most long-lasting tional day. We were told that Ethan and out of the hospital, receiving effect on my son’s life. My son was would no longer need follow-ups. out-patient chemotherapy, three born with this illness. His tiny body We were told that we were done sclerotherapies, and intensive phys- fought so hard to get through it. with the doctor visits and the MRIs. ical therapy – all due to a rare, non- He experienced unimaginable pain He was given a clean bill-of-health cancerous (but very harmful) vas- and suffering, spent day after day for the first time in his life. We cular tumor on his lower right leg. at the hospital, and in the end was could not have been able to offi- There was even talk of amputating able to overcome all the adversity cially close the book on this chapter his leg at the knee and/or trying that was sent his way. of his life without the Affordable some experimental adult chemo- Care Act and that is why 2010 was And even though he had prov- therapy. the best year of my son’s life. en, more than most people ever My husband was a full-time law student at the time, and even though I was the “breadwinner” for the family, I had to quit my job NORTH DAKOTA to care for my son during this unex- pected and life-threatening illness. Brooke (Grand Forks) With my job, went our family’s in- As a parent, one of my biggest surance, and we were incredibly fears is my child getting sick. Really fortunate to be able to have Ethan sick. If the unthinkable should hap- qualify for Medicaid. pen, I want to be able to focus all By his second year, the tumor my energy and time on helping my had begun to go away and I am daughter get better, not fighting one of countless people who can with the insurance company. This honestly say that ”government- important legislation is so crucial run healthcare” helped to save my for the health and security of our son’s life. We spent our time trying middle- and lower classes. Maybe to catch him up to a normal level rich people don’t have to worry of developmental with physical, oc- about being able to afford care if cupational, and speech therapy, as their children get sick, but I do. well as occasional check-ups with I pray to God every single night his oncologist. for my child’s continued good He learned to walk (late of health. And I pray for the people course, due to the pain caused by who are in the situation of having the tumor on his leg) and finally A MomsRising member marches for started being able to have what family economic security in Denver. g

30 MomsRising.org a seriously ill child. Any one of us folks won’t have the extra mon- pocket expense. Our fear and con- could be in that position. We have etary burden to deal with very cern has always been what would to fight for this law because even if soon. It’s imperative these re- happen when the kids became you don’t need it now, you might forms stay in place, and that we grown and with this pre-existing someday. don’t allow any of the Obama condition how would they be able admin. reform legislation to be to afford the maintenance of the repealed! equipment and the technology up- Sara (Grand Forks) grades necessary to keep improving I applied for CHIP for my two their hearing and quality of life. The daughters, a program that I just Paula (Westerville) health care reform act has allowed learned about and found out they Dear Mr. President: My son, us to have a peace of mind we have qualify for Medicaid because of the Benjamin, was diagnosed with not been afforded since we began new expansions to the program. JME (Juvenile Myoclonic Epilep- this journey. I am sure that we are Without it I don’t know how I’d af- sy) at the age of 16 1/2 years old. not alone there are thousands of ford my 4 year-old’s asthma medi- Since finishing school, he has been parents like us able to exhale now cation. unable to find a job with medical and focus on other issues to make benefits. our kids independent adults. Imagine the relief I feel as a mother now being able to pro- vide him with health insurance! Kelly (Oxford) My daughter is autistic and has I don’t know if he will live in- several times been denied potential dependently some day; it is cer- insurance because of this. Luckily, tainly our hope that he will. Until we’ve always managed to keep her then, I am grateful to the health covered, but it has required many insurance reform legislation for hours of work every time, lots of allowing me to provide this to my nailbiting, and sometimes higher child. His seizure meds were cost- rates. Ironically, she is remarkably ing him almost everything that he healthy and hardly ever goes to earned each month. Maybe now the doctor – she costs an insurance he will be able to start saving company far less than anyone else some money, and be able to have in the family! OHIO enough for a deposit on his first apartment. Ignorance and greed have led Ann (Canfield) to unfair practices by insurance People ask why he doesn’t just companies, and we cannot allow it Although my husband and I go on Social Security disability; to continue or become acceptable already had decent health insur- there is certainly a good chance again. One more twist – right now ance, we were very worried about he could qualify. But he wants to I have an individual policy and her our children and grandchild’s cov- work, to have a life that is inde- father has a group policy; my policy erage. The Patient Protection and pendent. Thank you for helping wouldn’t consider covering her, but Affordable Care Act has changed him live and work with dignity. she’s covered under the other one our anxiety to relief! – even though it’s the same insur- We can sleep better knowing ance company! our 18-yr-old son will be covered Vanessa (Columbus) up to age 28 (OH goes 2 more We have two kids that were born years beyond the Fed age limit of deaf. Both kids received cochlear im- OKLAHOMA 26). Our daughter and her hus- plants when they were toddlers. My band, along with their daughter, oldest is now 18 and a high school Dianna (Sand Springs) will keep their Unison coverage, senior and the other is 16 and a high My son is 18 years old and was until they can earn enough to school junior. diagnosed ADHD in the first grade. support themselves, and purchase We have been blessed that Without the health care changes affordable health insurance. throughout the years we have had he would be off my insurance De- Many people I know have private insurance through our em- cember 2011 unless he is a full-time pre-existing conditions, many of ployment to cover the surgery and student. Because of the severity of which were breaking them finan- equipment and equipment up- cially, as well as physically; these grades with little additional out of g

MomsRising.org 31 the ADHD, taking 12 hours in col- old card is exactly the same as the Odette (Norman) lege is not doable for him. Generic new card (and they never have My 20-year-old daughter will medications do not work for him; the current year printed on them), graduate from college this May. She therefore, higher priced named I’ll just save the old card in case I is on my husband’s and my insur- medications (Concerta and Stratera) need a spare. ance. She has epilepsy, which is pret- do work and work well. But this year, I got to cut up ty well controlled by medication. We My husband owns a one-man last year’s card with glee – the were terrified about her graduation business and I teach part time. We old one had the phrase “Annual before the health care bill passed have medical insurance through my Benefit Limit $10,000” (a number because she needs medical insur- retirement. Without the extension which my annual care could eas- ance in order to stay well. Also, we of coverage to age 26, in twelve ily exceed, and has), and the new feared she would not be able to get months we would have to decide if card doesn’t contain that phrase, health insurance because of her pre- spending nearly $800 for my son’s because a little bit of humanity existing condition. Her medication medications or not providing food actually went into our lawmaking costs about $1,200 a month. That is the greater need. last year. does not include doctor visits or oth- er incidental illnesses. In all honesty, my son’s ability to It’d be a shame to remove that function and provide for himself is a little bit of humanity and leave The thought that we may be fac- high priority. people like me in the lurch again. ing these issues again is beyond dis- heartening.

Maelynn (Tulsa) My daughter has a pre-existing condition and was also in that tran- sition between high school and col- lege for several years. The only way “...What would I could insure her was through full- she do without time enrollment as a student in the college where I am employed. But the new health her doctors were advising against care reform? this much activity/stress. We were in a catch-22, which set her up for fail- She would ure in school. have no When my employer changed in- coverage at all.” surance companies, she was then Jasmine (Muskogee) denied health care regardless of the Deborah, Eugene, OR I have several chronic condi- hours she was in school. Her current tions, all of which are wildly expen- job doesn’t offer benefits, and lack sive, including Type 1 diabetes since of health care has put her into emer- age 10. I have lived my whole adult gency situations. OREGON life in fear of benefit caps, sudden Even though we make a modest coverage drops, randomly denied income, and my husband is retired, Deborah (Eugene) claims from people at my insur- we’ve covered these bills rather than The health care reform is already ance company who have no medi- set her up for failure with credit is- helping us by allowing us to keep cal knowledge – and as a person sues. She is now 25, and we’ll be our young adult daughter on our employed in the health care indus- able to cover her for at least one family health insurance. She is 23 try, I’m one of the lucky ones who year with preventive strategies and (almost 24) and a college graduate has access and knowledge beyond hopefully allowing her time to look who is employed but does not have what most people have. But that for another job and/or re-visiting ed- health insurance coverage with her also means I witness many other ucational goals. However, this mess employer – what would she do with- tragic situations in which patients I of old policies has left a highly pro- out the new health care reform? She serve can’t get help. ductive and smart young person at would have no coverage at all. She This month, when my new in- risk rather than a productive mem- suffers from a chronic health condi- surance card arrived in the mail, I ber of society with high potential. tion that requires monthly medica- compared it to last year’s – some- We hope this year will help her get thing I always do, because if the back on track g

32 MomsRising.org tions – these are prohibitively expen- were two premalignant polyps being enforced. sive without health insurance. that were removed. So colon can- I have already seen evidence cer was prevented, at great sav- I also know that now my parents of the good news in my policy pa- ings to the system and extension (senior citizens) are able to get pre- perwork from the insurance car- of life for me! ventive care like routine health tests rier. No more “corporate profit that they desperately need cover- first” limits on the total amount age for. They have put off getting of care we may need in the fu- these important tests because they ture. No pre-existing condition have not previously been covered “corporate death panels” forcing under Medicare. Now under the the denial of care we may need to new health care plan – they are!! We live and thrive. must continue to move forward, not backward with how we provide for health care in America. Alice (Philadelphia) Since the reform went through It’s all our responsibility to care I have been able to assure stu- for those who cannot afford good dents who go on medical leave health. from the university where I work that they can be covered for their Rod & Greta (Eugene) care until they are well enough to return. This is an enormous boon My son nearly lost his eyesight Jennifer (Portland) to them and their families and al- because he couldn’t get medical cov- My son has autism, and we lows the most promising young erage for one month after starting were afraid to get him “formally people the chance to heal so that a new job. He was diagnosed with diagnosed” until health care re- they can complete their educa- Type 1 diabetes while being cared form passed, for fear he’d be de- tions. for at the ER 31 days after starting nied coverage or excluded. Now, the job. He was in the ER because 6 months after his diagnosis, he’s he’d gone blind while getting his received OT and is about to be- Pam (Morrisville) DMV license and had to be trans- gin speech therapy... please don’t My 68-year-old husband has ported by ambulance to the ER. stop this reform and make us go several conditions that require ex- They were able to stop the pro- back to choosing whether to pay tremely expensive drugs. He falls for food or his uncovered thera- gression of blindness, but none of into the doughnut hole very early pies! this had to happen if he’d been able in the year. Having the added ben- to transport his existing health in- efit of a 50% helping hand will be surance to his new job. This 30-day Deborah (Salem) huge to us. Also being on Medicare, waiting or refusal of care for preex- I’ve been without health care it will be good to have preventative isting diagnoses is a threat to every- for four years since my husband care paid for. one’s life. Please let’s not go back to was laid off from his job. Health As a small business owner, I was that! care reform is important to us paying $1,400 per month for inad- because it means we, as a small equate coverage for my self and my business, can now get health care Ruthann (Cottage Grove) spouse with no drug coverage and without pre-existing conditions large deductibles and co-pays. Be- I am 64 years old, one year un- and not worry about an illness ing able to go on Medicare was a til eligible for Medicare. I have bankrupting us. saving grace to surviving the eco- never had a colonoscopy because nomic downturn. I could not afford it. My health insurance policy has a $5,000 de- PENNSYLVANIA As a grandmother I believe this ductible/out-of-pocket before health care plan is critical to our any decent coverage; preventa- Joseph (Philadelphia) nation’s overall well being. We are tive procedures are prohibitive. I already pay for most of my the only developed nation in the The Obama plan encouraged my family’s health insurance through world that does not provide health insurance company to begin cov- my employer’s policy. I look for- coverage to our people. Surely we ering routine preventative care ward to every single protection can to better! including colonoscopy, so I sched- provided to my family by the uled one as soon as I heard. There Obama Health Care Policy now g

MomsRising.org 33 of migraines, asthma, and minor SOUTH CAROLINA mental health issues. As if there wasn’t enough stress with look- Sarah (Beaufort) ing for a job and finding a place Health care reform is already to live I had to search and search making a difference in the life of for a plan that would be afford- my 91-year-old mother who once able and would cover me. held down three jobs to support her family of 12 children. My I am so very relieved that my physician father was killed in an younger brother, who is graduat- automobile accident when I was Jenny (Portland) ing this year, will be able to stay only 4 months old and my oldest The changes in the health care on my parents’ plan until he can sister was just 15. Mom went to law will allow my son, who is a full find his own. I know that even work and amazingly raised us all, time student, to be covered un- though it was a headache, that instilling in us the values of hon- der the health insurance policy I I am lucky to not have a gap in esty and hard work. have through my employer. He was my coverage. I am happy about dropped in December when he the reform because I know that Now, at 91 she is suffering turned 23. He has been unable to young adults will find it easier to from COPD, heart disease and afford individual health insurance. be covered and to maintain their metastatic breast cancer. She has As a single parent with two kids in health. always paid for the best supple- mental insurance, but even with college, I can not afford to help him that, she pays thousands a year pay for a personal policy and I live in in healthcare and in her words fear that he will get sick or injured. PUERTO RICO has “outlived her retirement sav- In addition, I heard a terrible sto- Soraya (Elizabethtown) ings.” Without the gradual de- ry about a friend from high school My 10-year-old daughter can crease of co pays and closing of recently who was injured doing now get insurance despite her high the “doughnut hole” we would some work for his widowed mother. blood pressure! be lost. PLEASE, PLEASE continue As a private contractor, he had no to help this AMAZING lady in her health insurance. The bills piled up time of need. and his injury got worse. He ended RHODE ISLAND up committing suicide so as not to burden his mother with these exces- Ellen (Barrington) Christa (Greenville) sive medical expenses. A truly tragic As the mother of two children This morning my husband end of a wonderful person. with chronic illness, I shed tears of checked himself into the ER with relief when the health care reform cardiac symptoms. He had held off passed. I have lost sleep worrying visiting a doctor with his radiating that they will lose health care cover- chest discomfort, because we don’t age when they need it most. have insurance. But this morn- ing when he woke up feeling all wrong, he had no choice. Nancy (Wakefield) The fact that we have a “preex- While my husband and I have isting condition” safety net thanks had great health care through a to health care reform has done group policy at his university, it was MUCH to ease my mind this morn- eliminated for retirees. As we faced ing. The reason we have no insur- retiring, we became aware of health ance is that I am self-employed, issues which would prevent me from supporting our family, and still being accepted for affordable cover- building business. I hate to think age. Because of the health care re- of all my hard work having to pay form that changed and I have cover- insane health care costs instead of Olivia (Exton) age for my heart condition. Ridding saving for my children’s future. So When I graduated from col- citizens of pre-existing condition this health care reform is BADLY lege in 2007, I was shocked that clauses for insurance coverage is vi- needed for my family and others I had trouble finding good health tal for everyone. God bless President like ours. coverage. I got denied for plan Obama and all the those who made after plan because of a history it happen. g

34 MomsRising.org that she will not be denied health that I never became seriously ill. My insurance. safety net was the ER of our public Also, I am an endoscopy nurse hospital, knowing that they had to and I know how many lives can be treat me despite my inability to pay. saved and how much suffering pre- The medical conditions and vented by preventive health care health-care needs of those below services such as colonoscopies. I am the poverty line tend to be more dire encouraged and excited about the than those more fortunate. Having healthcare reform act because of the lived hand-to-mouth, I can say with emphasis on preventive medicine. certainty that when a person lives in poverty, one’s dietary choices are far SOUTH DAKOTA more limited, leading to higher inci- TENNESSEE dences of “lifestyle-related” condi- Dorna (Deadwood) tions such as obesity, diabetes, high My little granddaughter has a Heather (Hermitage) blood pressure, etc; conditions that “pre-existing condition” that would At this point in my life, my family require access to decent health care, have prevented her family from get- and I are fortunate enough not to not dependence on public health ting coverage for her. The fact that have to avail ourselves of the public clinics and public hospital ER’s for her parents did not have health in- health care option. I have a stable basic medical services. surance while they went to school job that provides very good health After many years and much ef- caused them to hesitate to get the care benefits. Theoretically, the at- fort, I finally obtained a job with proper treatment for her because tempt to repeal health care reform good health benefits. My insur- they worried that later, when they shouldn’t affect me or my family in ance struggle is over. That is not the got health insurance, she would be the slightest. BUT IT DOES. case for millions of Americans, who denied coverage because of it. Her This is why I care: deserve the basic care that my chil- parents recently finished school and I have been a single mother to dren and I now thankfully take for have a new job that offers health in- and sole support of my two sons for granted. surance. almost the entirety of their lives. I As a Christian, I believe we owe They had decided to start her was widowed at 24, when my boys a moral duty to our fellow man to treatment because the sooner a were 3 and 1 years of age. For many ease the suffering of others when- child with her condition is started on years, I struggled in hourly-wage ever possible. Jesus himself in- appropriate therapy, the more likely jobs with no benefits whatsoever, structed us all to care for “the least it is that she will recover and live a taking advantage of public health of these.” He instructed us to have normal life. They (and I) are breath- clinics to provide primary care for compassion for one another – to ing so much easier now, knowing my children, and thanking God feed the hungry, house the poor, treat the sick. As an American citizen (religious beliefs aside), I believe that provid- ing access to basic medical care and preventive treatment for all citizens is imperative. The socioeconomic benefits are undeniable. Access to basic care drastically reduces medi- cal costs resulting from untreated illnesses and their complications; it increases lifespan, which in turn increases earning capacity and up- ward mobility. It also benefits employers by in- creasing workplace productivity as improved personal health results in less sick time absences. Families ben- Texas MomsRising members discuss health care with Senate staff. g

MomsRising.org 35 efit as less income is spent on medi- us to afford – including the great Linda (Buda) cal care for untreated illnesses and healthcare that my employer offers. I have two children with special their resulting complications; famil- I am one of the fortunate citizens needs, from birth. I’ve been denied ial stability is improved as families of this country who has available insurance in the past because of are less likely to suffer a decline in healthcare through her employer – pre-existing conditions. I mean, be- socioeconomic status due to cata- but sadly, I cannot afford it because ing born with something is pretty strophic illness or death. its premiums are too high. Until our pre-existing! Our family lives in fear For the life of me, I cannot un- situation gets better, my family’s every day that their insurance would derstand why any right-thinking only hope is that health care reform be taken away. My son with Down person would believe that tax cuts provide an affordable insurance syndrome had open heart surgery for wealthy individuals are more im- plan in which my family can elect – this past summer, without Medic- portant than ensuring basic health and that insurance companies and aid, the out-of-pocket cost would care for our most impoverished citi- health care providers be held ac- have forced us to sell our house. We zens. America’s poor deserve health countable. shouldn’t have to choose between care too, and in all likelihood need medical attention or our home for it far more desperately than do our children. Medical insurance wealthier people. should be for all people, regardless of their health status. Personally, it seems that any- one who espoused “compassionate conservatism” would have a desire Catherine (Austin) to care equally for all American Yes, health care reform has helped citizens, and not leave the poorest my family immensely. Two of my ones to fall through the cracks. I daughters who had to be dropped guess that philosophy was nothing from our coverage because they more than a seasonal buzzword to were over 21 and not in college are garner votes. now covered (they are age 24). For my part, I will pay whatever Another daughter who is a full tax increase necessary if I never time student can continue her cover- again have to read a story about age. She was about to be dropped be- an uninsured child dying from an cause she had turned 22. She is about otherwise treatable condition, or to graduate from college, but would hear of people living with worsen- have probably had to quit school and ing chronic illnesses who would be TEXAS work full time so she wouldn’t lose living much better lives but for the her coverage. She was in a car acci- lack of insurance to treat their con- Thais (Austin) dent and needs pain management ditions. Last year when I was unem- for a broken jaw, so she would have ployed and got pregnant, there Repealing health care reform is been devastated without health in- was no insurance available to me. shortsighted, mean-spirited, and surance. I myself have complicated Private insurance companies called selfish. I am reminded of the words spinal issues, and if my husband had it ‘pre-existing’. I eventually found of Mother Teresa, who I believe said lost or needed to change his job, I a full-time job halfway through, it best: “It is a poverty to decide that would have been similarly devas- and went to the doctor... I might a child must die so that you may live tated because I wouldn’t be able to have stayed home with my baby as you wish.” change insurance or obtain new cov- and nursed him longer if it wasn’t erage without the new provisions. for needing insurance. It’s ironic. My own mother died in 1997, in part April (Murfreesboro) I don’t know what I would have because she had NO health insur- done if I had been unable to find Health care reform is extremely ance. Even though she was the wife work. important to me and my family. I am of an Air Force lieutenant colonel for an extremely hard-working taxpayer After reform, this year when my many years, she was not able to get who does the best she can to cover sister in law got pregnant (after 10 health insurance of any kind because her family’s needs, but is not always years of infertility she had given up of a pre existing kidney condition able to get my family even the most on purchasing the maternity por- and stroke. She was not able to visit basic medical care. Rent is too high, tion of her existing plan) she was any doctor during the last years of groceries are too high, utilities are able to get insurance easily. Go too high, everything is too high for Obamacare! g

36 MomsRising.org her life, because no one would cover his progress with his studies. her and there was no way she could Since the Health Care Reform Law afford the huge cost. She died at was adopted, a heavy burden was lim- age 62 of another stroke, which may ited. I no longer fear that he will be have been prevented had she had unprotected. I have stopped trying to adequate medical care. Health care discourage him from his chosen path. reform has made a huge difference in our lives and well being. I never realized the damage I was doing until he came to me a few weeks ago and told me that he was so happy that I was now supporting him and encouraging him in the field of his choice. After we talked further, it became clear that my frequent “suggestions” to look into other ar- eas of study made him feel that I did not approve or that I didn’t believe in him. This was very painful for me to Magdalena (Houston) hear because I love my son and cher- My name is Magdalena Clark ish the great relationship we have. If and I am mother of a beautiful I had continued to feel compelled to 6-year-old girl named Paloma. Davina (Dallas) discourage him, I might have done ir- Paloma was diagnosed with severe Due to the changes, I finally reparable damage to our relationship Autism when she was 2 years old. got to add my domestic partner of and to his self esteem. It’s been four years of physical, 10 years to my insurance, and for emotional, and financial struggles. my son, for the first time, for den- Trying to find the means to pro- tal, his birth certificate sufficed. vide for the therapies, diets and all In addition I’m already seeing less medical needs for our daughter has costs, and better service. Please, I beg you taken a tremendous toll in our fam- ily. We constantly struggle fighting not to take this the school district since it is incapa- Michele (Rowlett) away from us. ble of proving what my daughter My 20-year-old son Jordan had needs. Our private insurance would lymphoma as a young child. After Please do not take only cover 20 hour sessions of many years of painful and expensive the only chance speech therapy a year! My daugh- treatment, he is thankfully in full re- ter is non-verbal and 20 hours of mission. He is currently attending col- my daughter has speech therapy is sadly a joke. ABA lege and pursuing a music degree. to become the which is the only scientifically prov- His dream is to one day be a profes- en therapy that really helps people sional musician. Jordan is very gifted best she can be. with Autism was not covered at all. and has the talent and work ethic to It is a horrible to know that there obtain this dream but I found myself Magdalena, Houston, TX are means and ways to help your trying to steer him into other areas child but not being able to give her of study. My reasoning was rooted in help is killing us. the knowledge that many profession- We just recently found out that al musicians are privately insured and with the new Health Care Reform that it would be impossible for him to I know in the scheme of things, my we would finally be able to pro- purchase private insurance with his story is not as life and death as some vide our daughter with desperately pre-existing condition. stories but I truly believe that the pas- needed ABA she needs. We were Over the past couple of years, Jor- sage of this legislation makes it pos- so happy... the first great news we dan discussed his dreams and future sible for my son to realize his Ameri- had received in these past 4 years. plans less and less with me. At the can Dream and makes it possible for Please I beg you not to take this time, I believed this was just a natural me to give him the unconditional love away from us. Please do not take part of becoming his own person. He and support he needs to do just that. the only chance my daughter has to was seeking my advice less often and Thank you Democrats in Congess! I had to grill him to get any details on Thank you President Obama! g

MomsRising.org 37 become the best she can be. ABA coming dependents of the state. geries to have the tumor re- can do this for her, but unfortu- This is a win-win situation... peo- moved, and has been living a nor- nately we cannot afford it without ple can become mobile and take bet- mal life for the last four years. the help of this Health Care Re- ter jobs; adults with chronic illnesses However, he carries a risk of form. can hold jobs and not go on the dole acquiring more tumors in the fu- because they are uninsurable. I hope ture, and the health care reform all Americans will see the wisdom of UTAH that was passed will ensure that making health care available to all! as he matures, if this is an issue he Susan (Salt Lake City) is faced with again, he will have Working in a medical clinic at a the insurance coverage necessary Joy (Layton) Children’s Hospital, I can already see to pay for any medical interven- We own a small business (24 em- tion that may be needed. how healthcare reform is benefiting ployees) and the tax credits will help people with chronic illness. this year. We have a 16-year-old daughter who will be able to have Dawn (Bellows Falls) coverage (as long as we do) on our We have great health insur- insurance for the next 10 years. ance through my employer. Health Insurance is driving many My free-spirited, college grad- people out of business and the new uate son has had several jobs since law when it is fully implemented graduation (by choice) – none of will help real small businesses and which included health insurance. middle class families like us. Thanks. (Sternman on a lobster boat, working on a documentary, sum- mer cottage painter – you get the Roberta (Draper) idea. It worked well with the trip My son has just got on his own, to India to do ethnography with he is just turning 20. Working hard his friend the photographer.) Valerie (Orem) and trying to build a life. We all Last summer he was hit by a My family has 3 kids with cystic know how the job market is in our car while on his bicycle. He’s okay, fibrosis, and one with a severe learn- country right now. He works two thank God. We were able to make ing disability. I have never been able jobs and has no benefits even to get sure the hospital and doctor got to contemplate a better-paying job his teeth cleaned. The insurance paid. because with my kids’ pre-existing through my company just went into conditions, no new insurer would effect on January 1st, we waited He was here last week after ever take them. Because of the for this month, so he could go. And hiking a portion of Vermont’s Affordable Health Care Act, I just also so he could have health cover- Long Trail. We got talking about signed a great new job offer with age. United States of America, our health care reform. founding fathers would want these much better pay and job advance- “Mom – can I go back on your ment prospects! kinds of benefits for the people. It does not matter who is in govern- healthcare insurance? I’ll be glad Also, we had had to create our ment, we are all people and work to pay for it.” will so that the three with cystic fi- hard and help each other out in He can go back on in Septem- brosis could not inherit anything, in rough times, let’s keep America alive ber. We are all relieved. case no insurer would cover them with what we know is important!!! when they reached adulthood (and thus they would need Medicaid, Deborah (Vermont) which has strict limits on assets). VERMONT My husband’s 24-year old You can imagine how it broke daughter went back to school in our hearts to disinherit 3 of our own Willow (Bristol) August, to get a Master’s Degree kids!! But now, with the Affordable Our 15-year-old son was diag- in Occupational Therapy. In or- Health Care Act, we can rip up that nosed with a brain tumor when der to be a full-time student, she will! Now insurers will never be able he was 11 years old. It caused sig- had to leave her retail job which to deny our kids the coverage they nificant seizures for him, disrupt- meant sacrificing her health in- need, and so when our children grow ing his education and his self-es- surance. My husband and I con- up, they will be able to hold jobs and teem amongst many other things. contribute to society rather than be- He underwent two brain sur- g

38 MomsRising.org tacted our insurance carrier, was an insurance blanket or sense sures such as colonoscopy because Coventry through the American of security that all of us needed at of the added cost. Now I will be Foreign Service Protective Asso- a time when I have not had a pay arranging for it this fall. I am very ciation, to see if we could pick increase in the past two years. satisfied with Medicare and glad her up on our plan, which she was He is fortunate enough to be that the health care reform sup- forced to leave when she turned relatively healthy, but my husband ports it. 22 years old. and I need to have that burden We were so happy to hear that of him being uninsured off of our as of January 1, 2011, she can be shoulders when the economy is WASHINGTON covered under our plan thanks to so depressed. Please keep moving Jacqueline (Lake Forest Park) health care reform. And it won’t forward, and stop trying to take Last year, my sister joined the cost us any extra in premiums or America back to the dark, disrupt- business as a full-time office man- deductibles. So for now we have ed ages. ager. I pay her more than I pay her on the grad school’s health myself, more than I can really af- insurance plan (a bit pricey) but ford, much less than she’s really will be able to put her back onto worth. Because she has a mort- our family plan on the first of gage, she can’t afford health in- the year until she completes her surance on top of that. degree or turns 26, whichever comes first. While she and her husband were unemployed, they got ex- Thank you President Obama cellent subsidized coverage and all the Congressional mem- through Washington Basic Health bers who voted for this important – an excellent and life-saving reform. program. However, due to state budget shortfalls, the program is being cut back drastically. When Pamela (Annandale) her husband was awarded Social Love that we can cover children Security Disability, he started get- to age 26. Because graduate school ting coverage through Medicare. is almost a requirement for some Michele lost her health insurance. fields, it’s nice to know my kids can still get affordable coverage Thank you Barak Obama, Har- through a parent while they’re in ry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and all oth- school ers who helped us fight for health care reform! Love that pre-existing condi- tions won’t result in automatic de- Beginning August 1st, Michele nial of health coverage. I have a and I have new coverage. In an- relative who has had to stay mar- ticipation of changes in the law, ried to her abusive husband be- companies are changing their cause she has cancer and couldn’t programs. Now, a company with get coverage again. Some “pre-ex- only two full-time employees isting conditions” – like pregnan- qualifies for a group rate. Mi- cy! – have been an excuse for peo- chele and I are both insured for ple not to be covered. Made me medical, prescription, dental, and vision for only $40 more a month VIRGINIA wonder what third world country we were living in when pregnant than I was paying for medical only for me alone! What a break! Tracy (Norfolk) women couldn’t get medical care. My 21-year-old is taking a year I’m sorry there will be no pub- We also will get unlimited phy- off from school. He is having to pay lic option, but the changes here or sician office visits, not applicable back school loans from the first coming are all for the better. to our deductible, for only a $25 year. He works a full-time job with co-pay. This will not only save us a small business. He cannot afford money, but will keep us from ra- health insurance on his own, and Elizabeth (Staunton) tioning our necessary health care. we cannot afford to pay for it for I am 72 years old and was put- him. Adding him on to my policy ting off some preventive care mea- g

MomsRising.org 39 I know that if we can keep existing condition that struck him will expire in one year and with- the reforms in place, people will through no fault of his own as a out the changes brought by the come to value and depend on baby. health care reform act, I’m not them. Five years from now, the Type 1, like many life-threat- sure that I will be able to obtain very people who are screaming ening chronic diseases, can’t be or afford health insurance after about reform will shout the loud- managed via ER visists, because working as a physician for over est about government interfer- sometimes there just isn’t enough twenty years and offering top of ence in their “god-given right” time – without health coverage, the line health insurance to all to affordable insurance if there is he would either die suddenly of my office employees while I any whisper of repeal. We need (due to hypoglycemia that can was able to work. to hang tough and educate, edu- strike quickly when the disease cate, educate! isn’t being closely monitored by hourly – and expensive – blood testing) or slowly (due to com- plications that develop when the disease isn’t being closely moni- tored, again via expensive blood strip testing, insulin adjustments, endocrine counseling, etc.). It’s devastating enough to know that your child might not wake up in the morning due to a life-threatening disease (“dead in bed” is the phrase for diabetics). It’s even more heart-breaking to think that they might not be able to get health insurance, simply Deirdre (Washington) because some lawmakers want As a small business owner who to make a political statement by ran the business for many years rolling back reform. Forget the with only 1.3 or 1.4 FTE, myself Kristin (Seattle) “Obamacare death panels” scare and part-time help, I never quali- – these lawmakers really will en- Our son, at the tender age fied for a group rate. I had excel- sure death by denial of coverage of 14 months, developed a life- lent health insurance, but I was at the hands of the insurance in- threatening, pre-existing con- paying 30% of my income for it. dustry. dition that will be with him the Yes, 30% of my income! Luckily, I rest of his life or until a cure is own my home free and clear. found: Type 1 (juvenile) diabe- I am very concerned about tes. If you’re vague on what that people trying to repeal the means (as I was until diagnosis), healthcare reform. My 8 month it means taking insulin via shots old son was diagnosed with Cys- (or pump) for the rest of his life tic Fibrosis when he was 2 1/2 and walking the razor’s edge of weeks old. If anyone has a person too much insulin (hypoglycemia in their family or a friend with a - when diabetics need juice, insu- chronic condition, thy know how lin, or stronger measures to save expensive it is to obtain health their lives) or too little (leading to Nancy (Bellingham) insurance for them through the devastating complications - limb After suffering West Nile virus high risk pool. loss, blindness, cardiovascular dis- encephalitis in 2003, health care If healthcare reform is re- ease, etc.). insurance would be unobtain- pealed, every person with chronic able for me without the reform, He’s now 2 years old, and the conditions will suffer. With my which eliminates “pre-existing one thing that gave us a ray of sons condition, he has a pre/exist- condition” exclusions for health hope for his future was health ing condition and we really need care insurers evaluating new cli- care reform. At least now we a plan with no lifetime maximum, ents. wouldn’t have to worry that he’d which is another expensive fea- be denied coverage for this pre- My present COBRA insurance ture in a plan.

40 MomsRising.org I urge anyone who thinks this WISCONSIN for any child in the world to suffer reform is a bad idea to put them- but I especially am frustrated with self in my shoes. We luckily have a Lesli (Fort Atkinson) the lack of knowledge and under- good healthplan right now, but if My son was diagnosed with standing our country exhibits re: we need to change ever, we could asthma, eczema, and allergies health insurance coverage. We be put into bankruptcy if we had when he was 2 years old. From 1 are prisoners of health insurance to purchase a high risk insurance month old, my son experienced companies. plan without reform. severely dry skin with horrible Making your child healthy is itching. He has never had smooth stressful enough without serious hands. He has asked me many Lisa (Brookfield) health conditions, no one should times why the eczema won’t go My 24-year-old daughter just feel scared about losing their ago. He is 11 years old. graduated from college with a house just to pay for their health Approximately 2 years ago, degree in Journalism. The odds of insurance. we were lucky enough to find a her finding full-time employment doctor who did further allergy with health benefits in the near testing and determined my son future is slim. She is in excellent Elizabeth (Seattle) would benefit from starting Xo- health and will probably rarely It makes a huge difference to me lair injections. Christopher’s initial need to utilize my health insur- to know that my brother who owns IgE level was 1310 with the use of ance. a small business and has serious antihistamines. An IgE level great- However, I am relieved to know health issues will finally be able to er than 100 is considered severe that my coverage is available for obtain affordable medical insurance reaction to allergies. The Xolair illness or injury and that she will for himself and his family. He has of- costs $3,000 for 3 injections. My not be thrown into further debt ten put his life at risk because of the son receives these injections every while she seeks employment and fear of incurring huge medical bills. 2 weeks and has received these pays her student loans. injections for 2 years. In addition, he started allergy desensitization WEST VIRGINIA injection therapy 1 year ago. A WYOMING vial of custom allergens is made Patricia (Morgantown) for my son yearly; this costs sev- Because of health care reform, Sue (Powell) eral thousand dollars. our son will now have health care I have Multifocal Motor Neu- insurance as a graduate student. On top of the injections, Chris- ropathy which is a very expensive He was due to lose it this year be- topher takes medications. Advair, disease to treat. There is no cure. cause of his age (23), and now we Singulair, Zyrtec, hydroxyzine, Fortunately, I have great insur- can keep him on our policy until he triamcinolone cream. An Advair ance from my employer and they finishes school. diskus is approximately $200 a have fully covered my illness with- month. How will my son be able out exception. I will reach the $2 Given his health care needs, this to afford these medications if he million lifetime maximum payout is a tremendous relief. Healthcare does not have health insurance? at the end of December. reform is impacting us all now for There is no determined end for his the better. I keep telling people to By some miracle, as of January treatment. learn the facts, not listen to the in- 2011 lifetime maximum payout accurate rumors that continue to I am grateful he is able to re- limits will become illegal. I’ll now distort the true picture. Thank you ceive these medications that have be able to continue treatment everyone who continues to support improved his life dramatically. He which allows me to work and be health care reform. appears to be a health 11-year-old a productive member of our soci- boy. People are shocked when I ety. I’m 52 years old and without tell them his story. I am a nurse. I the ability to find affordable in- Gessika (Martinsburg) work with families every day who surance, I would end up in a care struggle to pay for the medica- My two-year-old daughter has facility which would drain my re- tions their children need but food a pre-existing condition. We have tirement funds within a few short health insurance through my SO’s and shelter compete for these years. Then what? You guessed it. job, but they change it from time families’ limited dollars. The state would have to absorb to time. Thanks to Health Reform, I How can a rich nation such as the costs. So, I’m one of those never have to worry about her be- the United States allowed its chil- folks that the healthcare bill has ing denied health insurance. dren to suffer? I do not advocate benefited. Just in time, too.

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