Dear President Obama,
I was recently laid off from my job at Mattel in April of 2014. The day that I was laid off I was wearing a 24 heart monitor. I have a chronic autoimmune disorder that requires continuous medical coverage. In the past losing my job meant either going without health insurance and paying exorbitant out of pocket costs, driving to Mexico for medications, or simply living in fear. At this point in my career it will take a little bit longer to find work than usual, as the higher you go, the longer it takes.
With the affordable care act I am assured that I can secure affordable coverage to meet my needs while I continue looking for work. I recently took on two clients as a freelance marketing consultant, and with those two clients I stand to make more than I ever did working in a corporate environment. I've always dreamed of having my own consultancy, but never thought it would happen because of my inability to secure private health insurance with a pre-existing condition.
With my ACA coverage I'm free to own my own business, consulting from home while ensuring I am able to manage my condition and stay healthy. I hope to leverage this freedom to become a job creator, growing my marketing business into something bigger than just a little shop operating out of my dining room. I have you to thank for that. I am not afraid of dying for lack of insurance, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to the economy, job growth and tax revenue.
All the best,
Deborah Katz