I have Stage 4 colorectal cancer. I began experiencing symptoms in February 2016, and I was finally correctly diagnosed in October 2016. Prior to February 2016, I had no health problems, no “pre-existing conditions” and no worries in the world. I was meaningfully employed as a public school teacher and was fortunate to have a good insurance policy through my employer when this happened. Since then, I was forced by treatments and surgery to retire and I lost my insurance plan. I was again fortunate to be able to get new insurance coverage through my spouse. I am alive today, receiving appropriate treatment thanks to my insurance coverage.
One year ago, on May 4, 2017, the Republican House of Representatives passed their “American Health Care Act.” Since the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) was passed in 2009, Republicans belittled the program, held more than 50 votes trying in various ways to repeal or amend the ACA out of existence and never offered any suggestions on making improvements to healthcare in America. Virginian’s, Rob Wittman, Scott Taylor, Tom Garrett, Robert Goodlatte, and Morgan Griffith, and my 7th district “representative” Dave Brat, all proudly voted for this bill.
The American Health Care Act (AHCA) would have caused over 500,000 Virginians to lose health care coverage. It would have allowed insurers to charge people over 50 years old five times more for coverage and to impose tens to thousands of dollars more for people with pre-existing conditions. Many other details of the AHCA would have diminished many Virginian’s access to affordable health care, medicare and medicaid.
Under the proposed AHCA supported by Dave Brat, my representative to Congress, I, and my family, would most likely be uninsured and facing the high costs of uninsured medical care. My spouse’s insurance would have most likely denied coverage because Mr. Brat’s AHCA would have virtually eliminated the protections I have against an insurance company denying me coverage due to a pre-existing condition. The little gap between losing my insurance and being picked up by my spouse’s insurance could have been taken as justification for the pre-existing condition determination. My hope now is that Medicaid survives until July 2019. Because of my now long-term disability, I will become eligible for that program at that time, if it still exists.
I hope my next representative in Congress will be more responsive to my needs, and the needs of other people facing the same type of health crisis I face. Truly affordable health care is essential for anyone facing these issues. We cannot afford the outfall from a draconian Republican roll-back of gains we made with the ACA. The anniversary of the House’s 9-year attempt to “repeal and replace” the ACA is not a cause for celebration; it’s a wake-up call to help Representative Brat retire and bring in new a representative who will work to implement a truly affordable healthcare program. I have met and spoken with Abigail Spanberger. I believe she is the person we need representing the 7th district. Please get out and support her in the democratic primary on June 12 and in the general election on November 6.