By the time this letter is printed, the U.S. Supreme Court will probably have stricken down the Affordable Health Care Act, (Obamacare). Republicans will rejoice in the defeat of Obama's signature achievement, but few of them, just like few Democrats, will understand the significance of the decision.
This became apparent to me in a recent conversation with my daughter who lives in Massachusetts and who has good insurance coverage, provided under the requirements of Romney Care, at a reasonable rate, around $5,000 annually. She expressed the desire to move to West Virginia and I informed her that was only possible if the court did not overturn Obamacare or the Republicans were unable to repeal it post-election. Otherwise, because she has significant pre-existing medical conditions, it may be that no insurance company would issue her a policy, and even if one would, it would cost upward of $15,000 which could not be afforded.
Shocked, she said, "That means I am virtually imprisoned in Massachusetts because no other state has Romneycare." (Limited insurance may be available for those unable to get standard insurance, go to accesswv.org or pcip.gov) She had never thought about this situation before because she was lucky enough to live in a state led at one time by a progressive and liberal governor, Mitt Romney.
Most Republicans either have medical insurance through their employment or are rich enough to afford it on their own. Content to swallow the anti-socialism propaganda of their wealthy leaders, they are unconcerned about the situation faced by 30 million-50 million of their neighbors. They are unconcerned about people like the self-employed contractor who recently worked on my house. A hard-working, 45-year-old man who employs two other men and supports a family of five, he cannot afford health insurance. An unexpected heart condition and surgery left him with an enormous hospital bill and only the prospect of perpetual overbearing debt.
But, even though medical insurance is not a problem for Republicans, their children may not be so lucky. Jobs with health insurance included are increasingly scarce. They may rue their victory.
Patrick Radcliff
Vienna
