Bill Needs Your Help!!!!!
Friends, today I have a simple request. I have not asked for much over this past year of hardship in dealing with Shannon's cancer but when I have asked for your help you have been there and I asking for your help one more time. The help we need today is one of a political nature and one that can cause a lot of anxiety and conflict. If this ask is too much I truly understand but have one simple request, please no political commentary. If you can't help just stop reading and move on with you day. If you can however find your way to take 5 minutes to help us make sure that Shannon has access to the type of insurance she needed to save her life last year and to keep her healthy in the future here is the request.
Please call your local Congressman or Congresswoman today, as soon as you are done reading this post.
BACKGROUND
I was not a fan of the Affordable Care Act or "ACA" also known as "Obamacare" until we had to use it. Before the ACA Shannon and I both purchased insurance on the individual market for a reasonable price but when the ACA was passed, like many people our premiums went up. I now get my health care through the VA as I am eligible due to an injury I sustained while in the Army to help save money and Shannon buys her insurance the individual market for more than what our combined plan used to cost. We weren't happy about it but what were we going to do?
Then Shannon got sick.
I met with our Financial Advisor and Health Insurance Broker the first week Shannon was in the hospital last year to get the lay of the land. To find out how this would impact us financially, what her insurance policy covers and what it doesn't cover. I was relieved to discover that after Shannon's deductible everything was covered at 100% as long as we kept paying the premiums. All of her Emergency Room care, Hospital care, Prescription Drugs (Chemotherapy) would be 100% covered at the hospital we choose to use that was in her network of care.
The life saving medical care that Shannon received last year cost over $500,000. Almost 100% of that was covered by her insurance and she was able to get the same policy again this year thanks to the ACA. Without the health insurance afforded her by the Affordable Care Act, Obamacare there could have been three different outcomes. She would be dead, we would be bankrupt or both.
Just this morning there was a NY Times article talking about striping these and other coverage's out of the replacement plan that will before the House of Representatives for a vote as soon as later today. While they will leave the provision that allows someone with a pre-existing condition in the current form of the bill this will be worthless if the coverage offered by the insurance companies doesn't do anything if you get sick. There are many other issues with the bill before Congress but this was the latest blow to the coverage that Shannon needs moving forward.
Recently Shannon and I attended a town hall meeting held by our Congresswoman on the ACA and I asked what I can do? She is not in favor of the replacement bill the American Health Care Act "AHCA" or Trumpcare if you will. Her response was tell all your friends to contact their representatives and ask them to vote NO on the AHCA.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
There are many things that don't work with the ACA or Obamacare but there are many things are working. That is topic for another time but the help I need, right, this very moment is for you to contact your Congressman or Woman and simply say "Please vote No for the American Health Care Act". That's it. Doesn't matter where you live in the U.S. Then if you are so inclined please share this with a friend so they can call too.
Lookup your local Representative and call RIGHT NOW!
Obamacare isn't perfect and needs some help to work better but what is being proposed by the Republicans right now is not a fix that will help Shannon stay healthy or have access to the health care she needs now or in the future.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and if you make a call or share this, THANK YOU!
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