I cried today

[Grammy23]

50. I cried listening to the Prez explain what the bill does

I couldn't help it. Next week on July 5th I will reach the 22nd year since my diagnosis of breast cancer. Thankfully, the treatment I received (and was insured so I got everything I needed) was apparently adequate to eliminate my cancer burden at the time. I have remained cancer free, as far as can be medically determined. What many people do not realize is that breast cancer can recur many, many years later, so for that reason I continue to be monitored for signs of recurrence. My doctor has told me about women who had their breast cancer recur after 20-25 years. So I have always had to live with the idea that my cancer could be lurking somewhere, undetected because it was still small, but could get "triggered" to grow again much later on. Don't get me wrong....I am grateful for my years of survival. However, I know I must be vigilant and never assume it will never happen to me again.

When the President explained the essential components of the Affordable Health Care Act, I began to cry out of sense of relief. To know that my history of cancer cannot be used to deny me coverage is a victory for everyone who has ever had the misfortune to be diagnosed with a serious disease or illness. The fact that the insurance company cannot "cap" how much they will pay for my care was another huge relief. Cancer treatment (and heart disease, MS, diabetes, lupus, the list goes on and on) can be very expensive. Without insurance you may get the treatment you need but your family could be bankrupt in the end. Or you may receive treatment but be limited in what you get. Insurance helps level the playing field so you have choices for treatment plans. And finally, knowing the insurance company can't get tired of paying for my care and then drop me, brought on a flood of tears for myself and all the other people out there who have battled for their lives or are in the midst of that battle right now.

Trust me---few of us ever "plan" to get sick or have a serious illness. That happens to other people, right? Nope, it happens to regular, ordinary people every day. I was 41 when I was diagnosed with cancer and it never entered my head that I'd be dealing with that for several years, plus the follow-up that would continue for the rest of my life. We should all assume that at some point we will need health insurance for something serious. I include dental insurance in that, too, since people can have dental problems with the potential to cause them life threatening illnesses. (Abscessed teeth, gum disease that leads to heart disease) We do not get to control when that serious health issue will occur in our lives, so you take a terrible risk if you gamble that youth is on your side.

Is the Affordable Care Act perfect? I would guess no, it's not. But do we need the essential elements contained in its thousands of pages? Oh, yes we do. The Republican politicians (who all have GOOD health insurance to take care of them and their families) will use every tactic in the book to scare Americans into believing that this act is an abomination, bad law, evil in its intent and the worst thing to happen to us since 9/11. Don't believe 'em. Let's marshall our energies and efforts into getting the core truths out to the people. Please, let's not let the Republicans carry the message about this issue because they will continue to distort and outright lie to the people. They have already regrouped since yesterday (they reframed their message within a few hours of hearing the SCOTUS ruling). They are going to hammer us with the message that the bill is a new tax on us and a bad thing for all of us.

Well, tax or not, we need reform, we need health insurance. The details of this bill can be modified to overcome its shortcomings. But please, let's not let the Repubs destroy our best chance at having health insurance for all of us.