I’m not going to lie…I was holding my breath. Would my pre-existing condition be covered? Would it ruin our lives forever? Would the millions of us with chronic illness be trapped in this horrible pre-Affordable Care Act hell that meant we paid and paid and paid and lost our homes and worried and worried and worried about how we’d pay and what we’d do if we couldn’t get coverage.
Then the media finally seemed to make sense of the Supreme Court Ruling:
Yes, that means people like me have hope. The conservative leaning Supreme Court gave us hope. The Affordable Care Act is not perfect, but it is progress. It is a step forward. It means those of us with chronic illness have HOPE in this world where we spend thousands upon thousands with good health insurance just to pay for life saving treatment we need to survive. Imagine what that is like, and imagine what this ruling means for those of us who live this hell daily.
Right now the only words I have, with tears still streaming down my face, is thank you Supreme Court. Thank you. Millions of Americans need this. And we need MORE of this. Let this just be the first step in making sure everyone has access to health care and that everyone has the right to get well and see a doctor and find a treatment that works.
I should know. I have spent the past two years fighting for my life. This ruling means people like me can fight to live another day, and do it with the HELP of our government.
It takes a village, and that village just got my back.
Hell to the YES.
Love!
Yay.
Like I said, no matter what SCOTUS decides we go on! Take the breath and a moment of solitude.
Implementation will happen, there will be much bickering but dang it Queenie, we are going to move this country to the future, a better one.
Crying tears of joy with you. It gives me HOPE for the future.
Yay! What a relief. I’m crying now too. I can’t get health insurance either except through a job and I’m happy I have one *now*, but the What If always loomed large…
FORWARD! YES WE CAN!
This is such an important and awesome day in our history. Props to you for sharing this moment with us and the world. You were definitely in my thoughts when this was read. 🙂
I’m not ashamed to say that watching you and Jack listen to the mandate reading that I also bursted into tears. As someone who was fortunate to be able to bring my chronic health condition under control in a country where healthcare is somewhat more affordable than in the US (Australia) & now tobe living in a country where healthcare is extremely affordable & available to those of us with pre-existing conditions (Germany) I have watched your battle with concern and a healthy dose of angst. To know that some of your battle against those who wish financial ruin for those who dare to get sick has been won brings me so much joy. The US still has a long way to go before it has a truly fair and equitable health care system, but this indeed is a very good first step.
Oh Erin. You were not far from my mind this morning. Big hugs from a room vibrating with electric joy. Not an overstatement.
This is a wonderful day and I love seeing your in-the-moment feelings! Thanks for being brave as always and sharing with us.
You’re the first person I thought of when I heard. THANK GOODNESS. Oh Erin. <3
I was holding my breath this morning as well, thinking of you. Shouted out a resounding YES! and gave not a damn about the people staring at me for yelling.
When the decision came down you were the very first person I thought of. I am so proud to stand with President Obama on this issue!
Oh your video made me cry again after already tearing up during the ruling. Happy day!
Erin,
I have been reading your blog for years now, long before you were sick, and I have never commented.But your post today has struck such a chord in me…I just want you to to know the effect you have on complete strangers. There are policies that I have always been in favor of, but YOU make me fighter harder for these policies; YOU make me speak up when I might otherwise have not. Please don’t ever underestimate the work you’re doing here.
Much love,
Allison
I’m happy that you are happy. The only part that wasn’t constitutional, and still isn’t, is the healthcare plan mandate. Now the government can mandate that you have any number of services they choose and levy a tax against you as punishment, because the Court just set a precedent.
Allison… um, it was just ruled constitutional. So the mandate is constitutional. The penalties/taxies/levies whatever you care to call it… CONSTITUTIONAL. WHeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!