Tears of Relief for the Affordable Care Act

I cried a few times yesterday. Not bawling tears, but a few drops of relief. A few drops for those who have been standing up to fight for our health care. A few drops for my friends’ children who will grow up in a country that provides them with the resources they need to thrive. A few drops for the women whose lives will be saved by learning about a condition from a simple preventive service. A few drops for the uninsured who will finally have affordable coverage in 2014. And a few drops for myself.

The promises of the Affordable Care Act are safe for one more day. There are so many promises of the law. These are a just a few promises the law makes to me:

• I will not be denied coverage for a preexisting condition.
• I will have access to preventive services without copays or deductibles.
• When I become eligible for Medicare (in many, many, many years), I will not have to worry about a gap in my prescription drug coverage.
• My friends don’t need to worry that their young children will hit an annual or lifetime dollar limit on their insurance.

Yesterday, I cried some tears of relief. I cried as my colleagues cheered for the health care law. I cried as I was walking through my office getting ready to read the decision. I cried as I read my newsfeed of Facebook.

Yesterday, I cried some tears of relief. Today, I stand up to protect the promise of the Affordable Care Act once more. A vote is already scheduled in the House to repeal it. They have done that before. I expect they will do it again. But I will stand strong. I will not be denied.