On the recordJanuary 19, 2011
Yesterday I met with everyday Americans in Chicago who shared with me their personal stories, tragic stories but common stories, about how our flawed health care system has devastated their lives. At its core, access to health care is a moral issue. Midge Hough told me how her 24-year-old daughter-in-law, Jennifer, and her unborn child both died because Jennifer could not find health insurance because of a preexisting condition. Her preexisting condition? A prior pregnancy. By the time emergency health care was mobilized, it was too late for Jennifer and her baby. She left behind her husband and a 2-year-old. Today, the Affordable Care Act mandates that pregnancy is no longer considered a preexisting condition. David Zoltan has diabetes, and because of his preexisting condition he couldn't get insurance after losing his job 2 years ago. He is holding the insulin that he needs to live; but thanks to the Affordable Care Act, David has coverage under Illinois' preexisting-condition plan and no longer ends up in the emergency room to get his lifesaving insulin. The Republican plan puts the insurance companies right back in the driver's seat to decide who they will and won't insure based on profitability, how much they will charge, what benefits they will cover. The Affordable Care Act ends insurance company abuses, creates rules of the road, and puts Americans in charge. The Republican plan is not health care. For millions of Americans, it means no care.
