By: Michelle Carr
The following is a fictional obituary I wrote, predicting what our world could look like in the event that the House's Current Healthcare plan succeeds to be put into place. I sent this, accompanied with a letter, to every Senator.
It is midnight April 30, 2020 and millions of Americans have passed away. We have never seen such catastrophic amount of deaths in such a short time as this. Their deaths occurred sporadically over the last couple of years. Cause of deaths varied, but all were linked to the loss of insurance coverage and the ability to receive care as they had before under the Affordable Health Care Act. Some, the lucky, passed silently in their sleep after having suffered months or years with no healthcare and no relief from the pain. Others, writhed in agony until their bodies could no longer take the pain and torture their illness inflicted and finally shut down.
According the reports from the coroners and medical staff, most of the cases could have been prevented or death held off by them having been able to keep the previous health coverage. The previous coverage having been the ACA that the GOP led administration pushed to have repealed and replaced. After speaking with many the surviving family members for their accounts of the deaths, we tend to agree. Though we cannot list every case and cause of each specific death, since there are millions, we can speak in general of those that we had found held repeated similarities.
Several of the cases were victims of pollution induced Asthma and Cancer. With the limitations of pollution being weakened, their living conditions fell into a pit of toxins. Without the EPA there to protect the rights of the people, the corporations continue on dumping wherever they could save a buck and the people grew sick. Being that Asthma and Cancer are preexisting conditions, the victim’s coverage costs and out of pocket fees were increased to astronomical amounts. Families reported that these amounts were far more than the annual incomes of those in each household could afford. They reached out to the government in need, as the taxpayers pool had been created for such cases. But each only ended up with the same mass reply. Replies that let them know that due to the high volume of requests for aid, the pool was being depleted and they were added to a waiting list. Sadly the waiting without care grew to be longer than they could wait.
Many of the cases were results of suicide. Once again, the actually means varied but the cases were similar in that many of the individuals were suffering from a mental health issues. Many had previously been seeking help before the AHCA had been put into effect. Once the law went into place, their visits were no longer covered. They couldn’t afford to pay for sessions on their own, so many had to cancel the visit to their therapists. We have found many of the cases were survivors of sexual assault who had now, under this plan, became listed as having preexisting conditions. Their treatments, like others, fell into the unaffordable range and they were forced to give up the help they so desperately needed. Without the aid of a professional, these Americans fell into a deep depression and some seemed to have extreme anxiety. Many expressed in letters left behind that they simply couldn’t go on this way. One woman’s final letter said:
“I had once lived in a world where I woke up every morning and thought to myself this is hard, but I’m still here and I can do this. But the world stopped caring about us. We have been left alone to suffer, our pain is too much for others to bear. Now I find myself not wanting to wake. The darkness is where the pain goes quiet for a short time. I just need it to be quiet.”
Due to her family’s request we must keep her identity anonymous, but her story will remain forever in our hearts and the hearts of those who loved her but weren’t able to help.
Many other medical atrocities were listed among these lost lives. Each one that had the potential to be spared. Sadly, had the GOP not been so caught up in the hunger to destroy what they had felt was a loss of their previous power, a great many of these American’s would be walking among us today. Many had had the potential to live long productive lives had they just received the proper treatment. But they lost that ability when their rights to healthcare were stripped away and the corporations instead received a tax break. Very few of the family’s told us they that had actually supported the passing of the AHCA. They had listened to their party’s promotion of the plan and thought it made sense. They admitted that once they had placed into practice, when they actually needed it the most, they found that it was not coverage at all. They had paid more out than before and still couldn’t afford to have their loved ones treated. Those families expressed that they if they could go back in time they would’ve chose differently. These Americans we have lost, these mothers, daughters, wives, fathers, sons, and husbands all had a story. A very important story, now their story serves as a reminder to the GOP that they shouldn’t be so quick to act on ego. That listening to their constituents is an important step to being a good leader.
As a reminder, due to the overflow of deceased and lack of space to bury our loved ones properly, the weekly cremations will be held all day on Friday. We are also reminding everyone that on these days the toxicity levels in the air is extremely high. Please remember to stay indoors as much as possible and if you must go out, where your oxygen mask.
Families of the deceased have asked that all those wishing to pay their respects please join them at the designated grounds on Memorial Day. Reminder that as of November 2017, bereavement time or US Family Medical leave Act, is no longer honored since funerals have become obsolete. Memorial Day is the designated for the mourning of all our loved ones we have lost throughout the year. This is the one work free day designated by our government for all us to remember and grieve the ones we have lost. Families also ask that any donations be made to the Families Against AHCA Coalition. All donations made help to aid in the legal efforts of the victim’s families who are suing the GOP members who created and voted this heath care into place. Being that each of those Conservative members no longer hold their position in Congress, this suit is for accountability purposes only.
