By: Gene Faltus of Swanzey
This Wednesday is the anniversary of a day that changed my life. Twelve years ago, on March 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) became law, opening the door for millions of Americans to access lifesaving health coverage.
I have been diagnosed with terminal cancer and a heart condition—both deemed pre-existing conditions—and the Affordable Care Act is the reason I could get lifesaving insurance.
Even though this law has changed millions of people’s lives for the better, it is again under attack by Republican officials.
Before the ACA existed, I had been denied coverage repeatedly due to my cancer and heart condition. This is the same story for the half-a-million Granite Staters and millions of Americans across the country who have pre-existing conditions.
Without the ACA, big insurance companies were able to turn away people with pre-existing conditions or hike up our premiums because they know our care is expensive. The Affordable Care Act is a safety net, but Republicans have tried to rip that net away over 100 times and are ready to do so again.
Just this month, Republican Senator Ron Johnson said that if his party takes back the House and Senate in November, they should try again to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Last week, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley said that Republicans would not take action to lower prescription drug prices if they had the majority. What’s more, every Republican voted against President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which lowered insurance premiums by an average of $800 and expanded health care access for over 52,000 Granite Staters under the ACA.
Republican lawmakers are fighting against lowering costs for working people, and even went so far as to block new legislation brought forward by Democrats that would reduce premiums and keep drug prices down. They want to play politics with our health care, but this isn’t just politics—this is my life.
I have had multiple surgeries for cancer, radiation and now chemo. For my heart, I have an internal defibrillator that sends shocks when I need them to keep me going. In January of 2019, my device shocked me eight times in six hours. The doctors told my wife that they didn’t expect me to make it that night, but thanks to my health care and the love of my family, I did. I do all I can to take care of myself and stay healthy. My doctors are pleased, but my heart condition and cancer are still pre-existing conditions, and they should not preclude me or anyone else from care.
President Biden and New Hampshire’s democratic congressional delegation understand that. They are a voice for Granite Staters’ health and safety, and they are working every day to lower health care costs, defend the ACA and protect our care. Not only did Democrats reduce prices and increase coverage through the American Rescue Plan that included provisions from Senator Jeanne Shaheen to lower premiums, President Biden has a plan to further lower the cost of lifesaving medicines and cap the cost of insulin at $35.
The president has made increased research to prevent and treat cancer and other severe illnesses a priority in his health care agenda, and he signed an executive order that amplified Senator Maggie Hassan’s work to lower prescription drug costs and increase access to generic drugs so that everyone can get the care they need.
The difference in who is fighting for us and who is working against us is stark. Republican lawmakers who attack the ACA should walk in my shoes for one day and try to tell me that my health care doesn’t matter. While Republicans use the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act to try and take away lifesaving care, I know that the president and our congressional delegation will keep fighting for Granite Staters. We have to re-elect Senator Hassan, Rep. Pappas and Rep. Kuster this November 8—they know what’s at stake and they will always fight for us.
Editor’s note: InDepthNH.org takes no position on issues, but welcomes diverse opinions. email nancywestnews@gmail.com