As I type, the Supreme Court is once again listening to GOP arguments that aim to throw away, in totality, the Affordable Care Act AKA ‘Obamacare’.
Republicans have tried to do this since the ACA came into being. Though the reasoning behind their hatred of this law has shifted wildly, the main reason for that has a name: Barack Obama. It was his signature legislative achievement, and a major part of his presidential legacy. Be it racially-motivated or otherwise, getting rid of the ACA would greatly diminish the achievements of our first Black POTUS.
Unfortunately, the consequences of its destruction have never been taken seriously. What will become of the 23M+ Americans who use the ACA for their healthcare? At every turn, we’ve heard laughable reports of ‘a terrific health plan TBD in the coming weeks’. But we all know there was never going to be a republican plan, because the goal was never to have a solution for healthcare that included government intervention.
For republicans, this is an ideological battle; much like the ideological battle against the mythical ‘socialism’ that reared its’ head in 2020’s general election. For their constituents, it’s ideological as well as theoretical. It’s not real. It’s just a way to antagonize the ‘libtards’ on the left. In response, many have implored friends and family to not support candidates who would do harm by stripping away their health care. This was done in an effort to personalize what would happen to them if the ACA is overturned.
I am one of those people.
I’ve had an ACA plan through Covered California since it’s creation after I ended Cobra coverage from my last job. Since that time, I’ve worked as an independent contractor with no other means of purchasing health care. To be clear, it’s the ONLY means I can buy affordable healthcare.
It’s been a godsend. In just the past 3 years, I’ve been able receive routine examinations and associated procedures, and also take care of multiple injuries and chronic conditions. These include medical diagnosis and extended physical therapy for disk compression, deep testing for glaucoma, extensive testing for esophageal dysphagia, treatment for dermatological issues, treatment for neuromas and plantar fasciitis in my feet, and treatment for tendon issues in both wrists.
My plan includes a prescription drug plan that has allowed me to receive most medications at a very reasonable costs. The past two years have included the ability to purchase dental coverage. Prior to that, I only received a couple of cleanings (with no x-rays) because I had to pay for them out-of-pocket. Though I have weak enamel and a ton of aging prior dental work, there was never a consideration to do more because I couldn’t afford it.
So when I say that a campaign promise to abolish the Affordable Care Act is a campaign promise to do me actual harm, it’s not hyperbole. It is very real, and very scary.
I understand, however, that my ACA story is different from those who live in ‘Red’ states. The reason for this is a simple one. When the ACA was enacted, it gave states great power to either use it to the benefit of their citizens, or not. California opted for ‘benefit’, and have one of the better marketplaces in the country EVEN WITH the sustained efforts to destabilize the law and marketplaces.
I know many who live in states who opted for minimal or non-participation. For them, the ACA has been a bad thing or not very helpful. Though I’m sorry their experience with the law hasn’t been good, the ACA is not to blame. The blame lies with their senators, their governors, their state legislators, and all those who looked to score political points (by making the law as crappy as possible) while their citizens suffered.
I’m not saying the ACA is perfect, by any means. It’s a patchwork law that allowed an inordinate amount of input by the very companies that stood to benefit by its’ enactment. For better or worse, it also allowed for a huge amount of variance in state implementation.
Even President Obama knew it had problems. He had hope, however, that Congress would provide the necessary fixes to benefit as many Americans as possible. Unfortunately, that hope died like many others in his second term.
All of which leaves us where we are today: a country on the cusp of eliminating health care for upwards of 23M+ people. When you hear the phrase “Elections have consequences”, think of people like me and hope that one of those consequences isn’t my health or my life.