Our Future Looks Bright

Raising two children with serious and often life-threatening medical issues has changed the way my husband and I think about and plan for the future. You may be surprised to learn that it actually means we focus more on the future; looking ahead and focusing on the big picture helps us deal with crisis situations and everyday challenges by putting them into a broader perspective. One year ago today, with the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the future possibilities for each member of our family changed dramatically:
• Now that insurers cannot deny policies to children with pre-existing conditions we are no longer job locked and can explore career advancements. In fact, I will be starting a new job, with benefits, this spring;
• The removal of annual and lifetime benefit caps for children and adults means that we can manage our household budget without the constant burden of economic doom constantly looming over us when our children exceeded their annual and lifetime coverage caps;
• The provision that allows young adults up to age 26 to stay on their parents’ plan means that we will be able to maintain coverage for our children as they seek higher education, even if their health requires they to do so as part-time students;
• The concurrent rule for children under Medicaid means that should our children ever need hospice or palliative care we will not be forced to stop all curative treatments in order to access comfort care, a decision no parent should ever have to make.
For our family and millions like us the ACA means a future where we can meet our children’s medical needs and continue to grow our personal and professional lives. One year later, our children’s futures are significantly brighter.

Rylin Rodgers
Lebanon Indiana