Quality, affordable health coverage is a lifesaver for families in the U.S.
December 28, 2016
In recent weeks, we've been hearing from families around the U.S. about what quality, affordable health coverage means for them, and one thing is clear: It's a lifesaver!
Indeed, recent improvements to our nation’s healthcare system have brought the number of uninsured Americans to a record low. Currently, over 90% of Americans are insured through employer-sponsored health coverage, Affordable Care Act Marketplace coverage, Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP.
My second child was born with an attached frenulum - meaning that he couldn't effectively nurse or drink from a bottle. Without a well-baby visit to the pediatrician (covered at 100%) to diagnose the issue and a subsequent visit to an ENT speciailist for a frenulectomy (covered at 60%) my baby may not have thrived to become the happy, healthy, joyful child he is today.
Or Leigh Downing from Arizona:
The ACA made a huge difference for my family. I had a child a few months before it went into effect. During that time, I paid 1/3 of my monthly salary for a minimalist employer health plan. It had a high deductible and my child was in the hospital for a few days, so I accrued thousands in medical debt. I ended up having to file bankruptcy. I was so thankful when the ACA went into effect. The new Obamacare plan was 1/3 the cost of my work plan and covered far more. Now I have a new job and the plan to add my child is 1/2 of my take home pay! We literally can’t afford for the ACA to go away. I have a masters degree and would be homeless if I had to pay that much for insurance. I work hard at my job and at being a parent. Families like mine need the ACA.
And Amy Krohn from Ohio:
Our daughter Addie was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 6—an autoimmune disease for which there is no cure, but does have very expensive treatments. When my husband lost his job a few years ago, prior to the Affordable Care Act, NO ONE would insure us - at any cost. We were denied coverage because of Addie’s Type 1 diagnosis. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, we no longer have to worry about being denied coverage and I can sleep at night knowing that Addie will always have access to her life saving medications – or will she??
You can read more stories from parent across the country here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.momsrising.org/images/Lifesaver_Book_-_Final...
And if you have a story of your own you'd like to share, you can submit it here: http://action.momsrising.org/survey/healthcare-stories/
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