Kristin of Nashville, TN

Kristin of Nashville, TN writes:

I am a wife, a mom of a 4 year old, and stepmom of a 12 year old. I work full time at a nonprofit that serves those without dental insurance, and I work part-time as a helper at my daughter’s day school. I have lived in Nashville for 15 years, and am a proud resident of the Oak Hill/Berry Hill area. I have been an active member of Belmont UMC for 8 years, and am currently helping to teach Sunday School with the 3-4 year old class.

I have ulcerative colitis, and my maintenance medications retail for around $700 a month. The last time I missed a significant number of doses, the ensuing flare-up and blood loss landed me in the hospital for 2 weeks, and required blood transfusions and IV medications.

I had lost a job, and was still job-searching when my COBRA ran out. I attempted to purchase my own, non-employer-sponsored health insurance, but this was a couple of years before the Affordable Care Act was passed. I was denied for every type of plan from every company, because I have a pre-existing condition. Though my career is in the nonprofit sector, my life was saved because I was able to find a rare job as a host in a restaurant that offered health insurance to its part-timers. If not for that stroke of luck, because there was no ACA, my pre-existing condition would have quite literally been a death sentence.

The fact that this life-saving program is in danger of being overturned is a slap in the face of every American like me. It is a message that it doesn’t matter if I die from my treatable condition. That it is alright for my 4-year-old daughter to grow up without a mother. That those who cannot find a job with healthcare benefits are worthless and expendable. That isn’t my America.

Help Kristin get this message heard by adding your voice.

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