To The Politicians Who Voted To Kill Me

[Skidmore]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/to-the-politicians-who-voted-to-kill-me_us_587ae6f6e4b03e071c14fdbc?123123

Late at night, while most of us were sleeping, the Senate voted to kill me. I’m sure that some of you will call me dramatic and say that I’m exaggerating. “They’re not going to repeal the Affordable Care Act without replacing it―and with something better!”

I’ve heard this so many times, yet even as the repeal has been voted on in the Senate and has been introduced in the House, I still haven’t seen a replacement bill introduced. Hell, I haven’t even heard a vague idea from one of the lawmakers so convinced that the ACA is terrible that they’re willing to strip 30 million Americans of their insurance. All I’ve seen is a rejection of any measure put forth to save “essential” aspects of the bill, each denial like a noose tightening around my neck. Keeping young people on their parents’ insurance until they’re 26. Rejected. Coverage for pre-existing conditions. Rejected.

But as I have been told so many times by those of you who support taking away my insurance, my ability to live: “health care isn’t a right.” This is often said with a smug incredulity at the idea that I feel “entitled” to lifesaving treatments, as if I’m asking for a Lexus instead of an ability to be hospitalized without complete financial ruin.

The one thing that I’ve noticed the most is that there seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding by non-disabled and non-chronically-ill people about what it’s like to need insurance and live with expensive medical issues. Let me give you an idea....

[Tortmaster]

1. Let them hear it until they cannot ...

... step outside without hearing about it. Millions will die an unnecessary death if there is a repeal.