No one plans for the day when your doctor tells you, “You have cancer.” I’ll never forget six years ago — on December 7, 2007 — when it happened to me. My life and my heart were full — a wonderful husband, three great children, a fantastic job with good benefits — but in just one day I went from being a perfectly healthy 41-year-old woman to a breast cancer patient. Believe me when I tell you, there is no way to prepare yourself for news like that. It was devastating.
Seven surgeries later, I am very proud to say I am now cancer-free. But getting the “all clear” call from your doctor is just the beginning. I’ll never be able to check the “no” box next to cancer on a health history questionnaire. My diagnosis will forever be a part of who I am. That’s why I am so thankful that starting in January because of the Affordable Care Act, the up to 129 million Americans living with a pre-existing condition, including nearly 8 million in my home state of Florida, will finally have the peace of mind knowing that we can’t be dropped from our insurance or denied coverage….
This is beyond politics, it’s about the values of our country. The Republican obsession over repealing and sabotaging the health care law must stop. We must move forward and continue to educate Americans and businesses about the benefits of the health care law, from protection against discrimination because of a preexisting condition, to accessing preventive care such as mammograms and colonoscopies with no co-pays, to closing the Medicare Part D donut hole coverage gap so seniors can save on prescription drugs. Democrats are committed to protecting these important benefits and fighting against the irresponsible, and costly, efforts by Republicans to repeal our progress.
