Politics Limit Opportunities to Establish Long Term Life Plans

At the age of 21 in 2009, my daughter was diagnosed with bone cancer, Osteosarcoma. At that time she was an independent videographer contracting with ESPN, the US Army and local media. She lived a dream life of travel, earning an income that allowed her to be self-sufficient, meeting new people and working at a job that rewarded her passions and skills.

Cancer changed her life choices

Following surgery and rehabilitation, she fortunately sees a future of possibilities, limited due to her circumstances but choices exist. As a cancer survivor, her doctor cautioned her at an early age to maintain health coverage at all costs; thus, she changed her professional course to obtain a job that provided long-term health coverage.

This meant continuing as a self-contractor was no longer an option. Knowing cancer would haunt her future choices, she earned a degree in education. As she followed in the footsteps of her mother, father, and sister, this provided a comfortable, satisfying choice with the assurance of health insurance long into the future.

Her doctor's advice stemmed from the knowledge that once an individual has cancer, a provider can refuse to provide medical coverage for a preexisting condition. However, if employed by a large corporation or government entity, insurance coverage could not be denied. Working in the system of public education provided security for whatever the future might hold.

Yes, disappointment existed when she turned her back on a dream job for an ambitious, young lady. But ten years later, she runs a video lab in a high school, is a respected educator who received the honor of Teacher of the Year in 2020, and is blessed with a supportive husband and two children. She learned that change may be difficult but lives by the cliché, when one door closes another opens.

Enter The Affordable Care Act

During 2010 President Obama's administration introduced and passed a policy that restricted the ability to deny health care based upon a preexisting condition. The original reaction provided hope for many. However, over the past ten years, this decision has been met with criticism, opposition, and numerous challenges at both the local level and the highest court in the land. Twice the Supreme Court issued a decision to uphold this policy but a new challenge will be reviewed on November 10th.

Knowing that The Affordable Care Act may cease to exist, requires many Americans to make decisions as if it doesn't. The ramifications of living without health insurances places a burden of financial uncertainty that questions the definition of fair and equitable.

Political affiliation is not the issue

The controversy does not rest on an individual's likes or dislikes of the policy, the congress or senate's votes, the Supreme Court's final decision, or whether it was presented by a republican or a democrat.

The concern is the unknown. American's reside in limbo as they make life changing decisions. For example, my daughter, her name is Kathryn, is now 32. With the assurance that she could purchase affordable health insurance as an independent contractor, she might be filming the Super bowl, traveling the world, and financially sound. However, if she had chosen that path, the fear resided that with the pound of a gavel her life could have been upended.

Respect the process but fear the politics

So many arguments are playing tug-of-war in my head.

• America must maintain a system of checks and balances
• As culture changes, government should change
• The political party in power should be allowed to impact change

Yes, all true. However, decisions are being made following two poor models. Either the baby is being thrown out with the bathwater and decisions become all-or-nothing scenarios. Or following the decision making strategy of Solomon in the Bible, politicians are willing to cut the baby in half to keep everyone happy. Neither option is acceptable.

My daughter is my baby. We all have loved ones on this battlefield. Instead of fighting to the death, watching the bloodshed, and assessing the carnage in the aftermath, it is essential our government collaborates, communicates, and commiserates as they debate decisions that impact Americans.

Luck and circumstances blessed my daughter. She chose between two great choices, and her situation has a happy ending. But life choices should not have to be made based on the ever changing political decisions.

The Notorious RGB

With the passing of Justice Ginsberg this week, the future of patient protections is again uncertain. If the Justices vote on November 11, it is expected there will be an 8–8 split which reverts the decision to the lower court, resulting in the death of The Affordable Care Act.

Whether the court upholds the policy is not at issue

Instead, the contention challenges each of us to ask:

• If the life course of millions of Americans resides in the hands of a few, what obligation do they have? 
• Who do they serve? 
• What criteria governs decisions? 
• How often can or should significant decisions alter direction?

Answers are fleeting. No absolutes exists. However, as long as lives can be quickly and drastically altered with the input of a few, often, and repeatedly, the system is flawed.