Have you had chance to check out that poll where 2,000+ PatientsLikeMe members shared their views on the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”)? It was the largest patient poll on potential changes to the health care law, and several media outlets are now listening up.
A recent CNBC article called “The human side of the Obamacare debate” featured quotes from those who took part in the poll. Here’s a glimpse of the patient perspective:
“Raising the age of dependent coverage to age 26 was a lifesaver for our daughter. ACA is not perfect as there are stories of those who’ve hated it and it cost them more money in the long run, but there are just as many positive stories of all the people the ACA helped. Health care in this country is big business and complicated. The ACA didn’t uncomplicate it, but it helped many more Americans have affordable health insurance. It is a mistake to just repeal it without anything to take its place.”
- Jeanne of Jackson, WI, living with fibromyalgia, depression, generalized anxiety disorder and primary biliary cirrhosis
“I lost my health insurance because my husband was laid off. Then, I had Medicaid for five months, but that was taken away because my husband made ‘too much’ on unemployment which wasn’t much. This doesn’t take into account our other bills like keeping a roof over our heads. I am in the middle of a disability case. I can’t afford insurance. If I start having seizures again from my [traumatic brain injury] or other issues, I am screwed financially. I don’t have any savings; I can’t work. I am borrowing money from credit cards just to make ends meet.
And to insist that I have insurance (the lowest quote I received was $270 per month) with no financial way of paying and getting fined because of that is an insult. I have been paying into a system that is supposed to help when I need it, but no. This has hurt me and so many others.”
- Shawn, Lakewood, CO, living with severe traumatic brain injury
Thanks again to all who participated and helped elevate the patient point of view. Let’s keep the dialogue going, together.
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I think patientslikeme should take more initiatives for sharing patient stories to show the more human side of this debate rather than political one on mainstream media. Good initiative. Keep it up.