Thank you, Mr. President!

     This is the first entry of The Controversy.  My original plan was to launch this new blog prior to the 2012 presidential election, but unfortunately I had been diagnosed with kidney cancer and didn't have the time or the concentration to focus on composing a daily essay.  As a result, I thought to myself, what am I going to write about that would interest a vast array of people and that would be controversial enough to spark commentaries from Americans all across the United States and from citizens of other nations around the world?  It then dawned on me, as I remembered something I was told by my high school creative writing/English teacher and my friend of more than 40 years, Bruce Emra, a long time ago.  "Write about things," Bruce would say, "that are personal to yourself or about anything you have experienced in your own life."  I, of course, asked myself if I wanted to share an aspect of my 57 years that was so personal - such as my health - with everyone on the planet Earth?  Why not?  It's not embarrassing.  It's not anything I've done wrong; and perhaps my thoughts will in some small way change the minds of others who have expressed a negative reaction to President Barack Obama and his Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Affordable Care Act).  After all, if it wasn't for the so called "Obamacare" - a term the Republicans used in a derogatory fashion, but for which Mr. Obama embraced with fondness and affection - I don't know where I would be today.

    
     In 2010, Congress enacted the Affordable Care Act in order to increase the number of Americans covered by health insurance and decrease the cost of health care.  Under "Obamacare," if a person has a pre-existing condition, as 129 million Americans do, insurance companies are no longer allowed to deny coverage based on that condition.  The new healthcare law guarantees that insurers will have to accept everyone who wants to purchase a plan, regardless of a person's health status.  This means that health insurance companies cannot refuse to cover an individual's treatment solely because a person already had a medical condition when joining their plan.

     From prostate cancer to kidney cancer, from ulcerative colitis to Crohn's Disease, from severe inflammatory osteoarthritis to fibromyalgia and other medical issues, I have more pre-existing conditions than I care to think about; and until "Obamacare," I was unable to get health insurance.

     On Thursday, June 28, 2012, in a dramatic victory for President Obama, the United States Supreme Court upheld the 2010 healthcare law thus preserving the President's landmark legislative achievement.  The majority opinion was written by Chief Justice John Roberts, who decided that the law was a valid exercise of Congress's power to tax.  As a result, the Affordable Care Act requires non-exempted individuals to maintain a minimum level of health insurance or pay a tax penalty.  Chief Justice Roberts re-framed the battle over health care as a debate over increasing taxes.  "Congress," Roberts said, "is increasing taxes on those who choose to go uninsured."

     On Tuesday, November 6 - election night 2012 - I was in a New York City hospital recovery room bed following major surgery to remove a malignant tumor in my left kidney.  I had been diagnosed in July with renal cell carcinoma and was advised by my primary care physician and later by my urological surgeon that an operation was my only option if I wanted to be completely certain (or at least nearly certain) of no reoccurence of cancer in my left kidney.  It's been only 16 days since my surgery; and I am still recovering and unable to return to my "day job" until the end of November.  That said, I'm improving everyday despite remaining in quite a bit of pain.

     My surgeon is a highly respected, well renowned doctor who leads one of the largest and most comprehensive robotic oncology programs in the United States and he is one of only a few select surgeons on the planet who has accomplished nearly 2,000 robotic surgeries.  The hospital where my doctor performed my operation is one of the most prestigious medical facilities in our country and the entire world.  Obviously the most important part of this commentary is that my surgeon has assured me that he removed the entire tumor and that cancer has not spread to anywhere else in my body; and, therefore, according to my doctor, I should have no fears of any new malignancy in my left kidney.  I am now a two-time cancer survivor.

     The second most important part of what I am writing today concerns paying the bills.  My health insurance will cover mostly everything; if not all of the costs.  So on this Thanksgiving Day...thanks to my doctors...and thank you, Mr. President.  Thank you very much.

     There are many other wonderful reasons, besides the pre-existing conditions clause, why the Affordable Care Act benefits millions of other Americans.  Thanks to "Obamacare," young adults are now allowed to stay on their parents' health insurance plans until they turn 26 years old, there are no lifetime caps anymore, senior citizens and people with disabilities will save hundreds of dollars each year on prescription drug prices as the Affordable Care Act begins to close the so-called "donut hole" in Medicare coverage, there are free preventative health screening procedures for cancer such as colonoscopies and mammograms plus wellness visits for seniors, expenses in Medicare will be reduced as the law strengthens and protects Medicare by fighting fraud, insurance companies no longer have unchecked power to cancel your policy or to charge women more than men and, of course, medical costs in general will be cut for all of us because we do not have to pay emergency room fees for routine care for the uninsured.  There are numerous other provisions that explain why the Affordable Care Act is an excellent piece of legislation including, but not limited to the fact, that if you're one of the 265 million Americans who already have healthcare - whether through private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid - "Obamacare" is already making your coverage more secure.  With a national population of 315 million people, if you are one of the 50 million Americans who don't have health insurance, this law will offer you a wide range of quality, affordable, private health insurance plans to choose from; and if and when you need healthcare, you will finally have the same opportunity to receive the medical treatment that others get.

     I just want everyone reading my observations and remarks today - especially President Obama, his staff at The White House, those Members of the United States Congress who supported the Affordable Care Act and five Supreme Court Justices, especially Chief Justice Roberts - to know that I am sincerely grateful for all your efforts by creating and passing such a bill in to law.

     I am fully aware there are Republicans who live in all 50 states; as well as some Democrats and Independents, who opposed and still are against "Obamacare."  Sadly, they want to blame President Obama for issues that have no bearing whatsoever to the inauguration or continuation of the nation's healthcare program.  If they would stop accusing the President and they would cease spewing venomous falsehoods, but instead realize how truly magnificent the Affordable Care Act is to not only 50 million Americans, but to every American, then our country can move forward in other areas.  If those who oppose "Obamacare" would give careful thought and would understand the gigantic benefits overall, to each and everyone of us who live in this great land, they too may be as appreciative of this law as I am.  As The White House press release stated on June 28, 2012, "The Supreme Court decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act ensures hard-working, middle class families (and individuals) will get the security they deserve."

     So again...thank you, Mr. President.  I voted for you in 2008; I voted for you in 2012; and I support you and your plans for your second term to help middle-class Americans who need your assistance in getting the lives of all 100% of our country's citizens - young and old - to be happy, healthy and successful.

     And that's The Controversy for today. 

     I'm Gary B. Duglin.

Copyright 2012 Gary B. Duglin and TheControversy.net. All Rights Reserved.