With Donald Trump and the new majority Republican Congress in control of the White House and both Houses of Congress, efforts are already underway to gut the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka "Obamacare"), dumping millions upon millions of Americans off of their health insurance plans.
Worse, it will strip the provision forbidding insurance companies from dropping or denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions. Removal of this lifesaving provision of the PP/ACA will leave millions upon millions of Americans to suffer and die needlessly as insurance companies will once again be able to slam the door in the faces of vulnerable American citizens. THIS WILL AFFECT EVERYONE, not just people with PP/ACA coverage. This will affect those on employer-based health coverage as well.
#WeAreTheDead is intended to put a human face on this looming crisis. Individuals whose lives have been saved as a result of having access to affordable healthcare and medication through the PP/ACA. Individuals whose lives have been improved and lengthened. Individuals who will now have to suffer the consequences of a deadly decision made by heartless politicians and celebrated by our next President.
1) "Obamacare" *IS* the PP/ACA. Many people on the PP/ACA think that "Obamacare" and the PP/ACA are two different programs. THEY ARE NOT. When PP/ACA goes away, THEIR insurance goes away.
2) Peoples lives have been saved because of the ACA.
3) Repeal of the PP/ACA and it's provisions will affect ALL insurance policies, not just the ones obtained through the PP/ACA. EVERYONE WITH INSURANCE WILL POTENTIALLY SUFFER BECAUSE OF THIS.
4) AMERICANS WILL DIE NEEDLESSLY AS A RESULT OF THIS. People you know. People you work with. People you pray with. People you love, and need and depend upon. Perhaps even you.
This is not a partisan issue. This is a LIFE AND DEATH issue. While incoming President Donald Trump and the GOP Congressional Majority are celebrating the repeal of the PP/ACA, many Americans are watching as their own death sentences are being signed by their own government. THIS IS WHAT A DEATH PANEL LOOKS LIKE.
The intention is to put a human face on this crisis. These are our husbands and wives, our lovers and partners, our children and the teachers who educate them, our coworkers, our parents and our grandparents, and often ourselves.