As I sit watching the news coverage of the government shutdown over "Obamacare" I shake my head, I roll my eyes and like a large part of our country, question "What the hell is going on?"
1.Was the "Affordable Care Act" not signed into law already?
2.Why are we debating this now?
3.Is this the Republican Party's way of manipulating us into believing things are going to change and chose this moment to repeal Obamacare?
4.Did the Democratic Party not foresee this last year? Why is this happening now? This is a very poor game of chess that they're playing at our epense.
5.Can somebody please explain "Obamacare" to me?
I am a 53-year-old woman. My current health insurance premiums are $546.00 a month. My deductible is $3,500 a year. My out of pocket expenses are $5,000 a year. I take at least five different medications. I don't have a full-time job because I take care of my autistic son (who, because of his aggression, takes six different medications himself) leaving me subject to these incredible premiums.
The words roll off the tongues of our Republican politicians so easily suggesting we wait another year. It bothers me because I see the beautiful suits, the starch shirts, the perfectly styled hair and I know that they have health insurance. These people do not worry about their health care. How dare they ask me to wait another year for lower premiums?
I have survived breast cancer. I am now divorced and my income has been reduced greatly for obvious reasons. I stay away from the doctor because I can't afford to pay him. I need an x-ray but I delay and suffer as long as I can because I don't want to spend the money. I don't want to wait another year to be able to afford the cost of making sure my cancer doesn't return. I'm also petrified that if it does come back, I don't have the $5,000 out-of-pocket expenses. I could charge it, but I couldn't repay it. If I don't pay the bills, I go to collection. If I go to collection, my chances of being approved for a new apartment drop significantly, the interest rate on a new car loan becomes higher and it could affect my obtaining a job in the future. In others words I have to choose between having good credit or having good health.
"Obamacare" is not a new issue! I simply cannot believe that we are having a government shutdown because of this.
This debate should have taken place over a year ago. I am starting to believe that those in Congress really do not relate to the average human. I previously gave them the benefit of the doubt.
I am a Republican by nature, but after watching the Republican party hold my country hostage at this hour, I cannot see myself voting anything but Democrat all the way down the next ballot without even looking at who is running!
My boobs and my body need affordable health care now, not a year and three months from now! By then, I might be dead.
I'm also upset because this news coverage is overshadowing Breast Cancer Awareness month. This is my month. Call me selfish, but I want my coverage --both affordable health insurance and breast cancer awareness -- and I want it now!
For more information about Lisa Masters visit Build-A-Boob.
FB Buildaboob after the cure.