Amelia of Lebanon, TN
Amelia of Lebanon, TN writes:
My name is Amelia Hipps, and I am a 57-year-old woman with Type 2 Diabetes. I live in Lebanon, Tennessee, with my husband and three rescue dogs. I moved to Tennessee 11 years ago this month. Currently, I work as a public relations consultant, writer, and editor after spending almost 25 years in the newspaper industry. I serve on the board of New Leash on Life, a non-profit campanion animal adoption organization in Lebanon.
I am among the 12.7 %, or more than 650,000 adults, who have been diagnosed with diabetes in Tennessee, which ranked 5th among the states for the prevalence of diabetes in 2015. This includes those diagnosed with Type 1, Type 2 or Gestational Diabetes, which happens to women who are pregnant and if untreated can lead to complications for both the mother and the child.
Because of the Affordable Care Act, I was able to get health insurance. Yes, it is expensive, but the alternative was even scarier. If the proposed AHCA passes – without significant changes by the Senate – I fear my insurance costs will rise to the point that I cannot afford it. The AHCA will allow insurance companies to charge me more because of my pre-existing condition and my age. Just because I may have access to health insurance doesn’t mean I’ll be able to afford it.
Senator Alexander, will you vote NO on any legislation that allows insurance companies to drop coverage or charge more for pre-existing conditions? Many of our mothers are struggling with diabetes, breast cancer and other illnesses and before Obamacare insurance companies could drop coverage or charge more, making access to affordable health care nearly impossible. Will you vote no on the Republican House plan that will cause premiums for moms with pre-existing conditions to skyrocket?
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