My uncle is in the hospital, extremely ill. The first hospital he went to looked him over and sent him home. The second one admitted him, did some tests, and then told him there was nothing they could do and that he should go home to die. We assume the problem is that the insurance companies do not want to pay what it would take to help him.
My parents intended to hire a lawyer to fight the hospital and insist that they keep trying. But when I called to get details, I found that a lawyer was no longer necessary. My uncle has been provided with a patient advocate, thanks to the ACA.
Now, from what I've heard it is entirely possible that there is truly nothing that can be done for him. If so, we will at least have the comfort of knowing that he was sent home for the right reasons, that they did not deny him due to money. But if there is anything that they can do, Obamacare may save his life.
Much of my family is Conservative. They have spent the last couple of years worried and whining over their perception of what the ACA would do. But here, their very first actual contact with the new system is helping in a way that they had never dreamed possible.
When my mother told me where the assistance was coming from, I almost jumped with joy. This is how we will change minds. This is how we will bring people to our side. By helping them.
Thank you, Mr. President.