ACA Success Stories: Kelly from Princeton, TX
I am 64 years old and looking forward to the protection Medicare will offer me, because I am greatly concerned about repeal of my ACA coverage. For my entire working life, I carried and paid for quality full-coverage health insurance for over 25 years, either personally or through an employer. I was the guy insurance companies count on to balance their risk—I didn’t have any serious health conditions.
After a layoff, I experienced the first of two heart attacks in 2003, which made me instantly uninsurable. Without health insurance, I was unable to complete cardiac rehab or afford preventive drugs or treatment. The ACA made insurance available to me for the first time in many years. After failing a cardio stress test and a bad angiogram, I had an urgent triple cardio artery bypass graft. The ACA literally saved my life, and I am grateful it exists.
About a year after my surgery, I was able to fly to Cleveland and take my father to see the Indians play the Angels. He was pleased that the odds of my outliving him had dramatically improved.
The Cover Texas Now Coalition is looking for stories like Kelly’s. We’d like to know how the Affordable Care Act or Medicaid have helped you and your family. Are you willing to share your story with us? If so, please visit this page and tell us how these programs have affected you.