I’m frightened to think about Congress dismantling the Affordable Care Act without replacing. Americans benefit from ACA, even those with employer insurance. My experience is a good example.
Before ACA, I tried to purchase private insurance; however, insurance would not cover my “woman parts” due to a pre-existing condition. ACA eliminated this. I later got great coverage at work for my whole body. However, because of that pre-existing condition, I felt bound to my job’s health insurance and passed on choices like starting a business.
In 2010 my husband was diagnosed with heart failure. Valve replacement was an immediate life-saving measure, but his heart continued to fail and a heart transplant was necessary to save his life. He survived — BUT talk about a pre-existing condition. With ACA I could retire early if necessary to care for him because of ACA.
Another ACA benefit not mentioned much: elimination of lifetime caps. Our previous cap was $1 million. Heart transplants aren’t given to non-insured cases unless you pay/raise the money; transplants.org estimates that hearts cost $1.2 million. If lifetime caps return, my husband could be denied insurance.
Think about what you/your loved ones may have gained and what you have to lose if ACA is repealed without replacement; call your senators to object.
Lindy Johnson
Lookout Mountain, Tn.
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"With ACA I could retire."
Good grief, talk about a Socialist mindset? Who do you think is going to finance your retirement? One hundred percent of government money is taken from someone else and redistributed.
Mandatory ACA payments are just that; Mandatory. Someone pays, someone else receives and then brags about unearned benefits of socialism.
Steve Campbell
McDonald, Tn.
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Lindy,
I really appreciate you sharing your ACA story with us, I've got to admit you're the first one that has come out and spoken positive thoughts regarding this issue. Having said that I have to say you're definitely in the minority, my brother (who has private insurance with sky high premiums) nearly lost everything due to the extremely high deductibles. Most folks think those deductibles only apply to federal sponsored ACA programs but that's not true. Everyone is experiencing the high deductibles because the insurance companies bit off more than they could chew and have to recoup their zillions of dollars somehow.
I'm a senior citizen on Social Security working not one but two part-time jobs to cover the high cost of electricity during the winter months (thank you Obama). I have Medicare Advantage but everything is relevant....the deductibles I have to pay are comparable to the high dollar deductibles others are paying.
In short, it's wonderful to have medical insurance but it's quite another thing to be able to use it due to deductibles coming from our pockets and not from a government subsidized program. Bottom line, if you're a young family or a senior citizen you simply cannot afford what Obama has hung around your neck.
It worked for you but it absolutely is not working for the folks who pay their own way without government assistance. Americans were lied to out of the box and bottom line instead of saving $2,500 per year it's put people in the position of literally going without care while having medical insurance. Something is very wrong with that equation and the new Congress needs to fix those problems.
It should have been a bi-partisan endeavor, but Obama could only see a legacy in the making. Now they can work across the aisle and make it better for everyone and not just a chosen few.
Sue White
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How interesting that Mr. Campbell complains about socialism.
I'm willing to bet that Mr. Campbell drives on socialist public highways, past the socialist Post Office, public libraries and public schools, uses socialist banks, airports, buys from those using socialist agriculture subsidies including electricity and water suppliers, takes advantage of radio and television channels, and then listens to conservative Tea Party leaders who made their millions and continue to do so off socialist programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Add to that the socialism of military adventures in foreign countries under the guise of "Americanism" and democracy.
So I suggest that to avoid socialism, Mr. Campbell stays home, lives off the grid without socialist supplied electricity and water, eats only what he can grown himself, renounces all social security and Medicare benefits, turns off all television network and radio channels, and lives the rugged individualistic life he imagines.
By the way, I'm not a socialist, but I am a realist.
Stephen Greenfield