Mar 23, 2015
By: Sylvia Mathews Burwell, HHS Secretary
For more than a century, American leaders have struggled to find ways to extend quality, affordable health care to everyone. We made progress for the elderly, the underserved and children, but for many Americans, that goal remained unattainable.
Nathan Auldridge knew that truth too well. He was a senior in college when he started experiencing double vision and severe vomiting. He was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor and had to undergo a craniotomy and six weeks of radiation. The treatments were successful and he was declared cancer-free in 2006.
But as a cancer survivor, a new health struggle was just beginning. In addition to having a pre-existing condition, he had developed narcolepsy. He was suddenly very difficult to insure.
In 2013, Nathan worked with special needs adults, a job he was passionate about, but that didn’t provide health coverage. So he found a plan on the private market for almost $500 a month with a $5,000 deductible. Still, with coverage his prescriptions and medical expenses were more than half of his yearly income of $20,000. He was only able to get by with help from his family.
But five years ago this week, Nathan—and millions of Americans like him—found hope in a new law, the Affordable Care Act.
READ MORE: Happy Anniversary, Affordable Care Act!Nathan Auldridge knew that truth too well. He was a senior in college when he started experiencing double vision and severe vomiting. He was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor and had to undergo a craniotomy and six weeks of radiation. The treatments were successful and he was declared cancer-free in 2006.
But as a cancer survivor, a new health struggle was just beginning. In addition to having a pre-existing condition, he had developed narcolepsy. He was suddenly very difficult to insure.
In 2013, Nathan worked with special needs adults, a job he was passionate about, but that didn’t provide health coverage. So he found a plan on the private market for almost $500 a month with a $5,000 deductible. Still, with coverage his prescriptions and medical expenses were more than half of his yearly income of $20,000. He was only able to get by with help from his family.
But five years ago this week, Nathan—and millions of Americans like him—found hope in a new law, the Affordable Care Act.
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