Robyn Martin speaks out to support the ACA in Washington, D.C.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) isn’t exactly fun to read. It’s long and complicated, and it can be difficult to look through information on it without your eyes glazing over. But it has already changed peoples’ lives—oftentimes in huge ways. Take Robyn Martin, a 38-year-old from Waldorf, MD, for example.
Back in March 2012, while the Supreme Court was debating the fate of the Affordable Care Act, Martin went to Washington, D.C., to advocate for the reform. She had great health insurance, thanks to her job working for a labor union. But she also had a seven-month-old son named Jax with a congenital heart defect and a rare genetic disorder commonly referred to as cat eye syndrome. Jax, now 19 months old, suffers from heart problems, ocular problems, and neurological problems. “His heart was on the wrong side of his chest, and his intestines were turned backward,” says Martin. “He just has a lot of issues.”
Jax spent three weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after he was born. The bill for his first day in the NICU came to more than $ 150,000, and the life-saving open-heart surgery Jax had three months later cost an additional $ 192,000.
“He’s doing wonderfully, but there will be more hurdles to cross,” says Martin. Although Jax has gone on more than 50 doctors’ visits, he’ll have to undergo at at least one more heart surgery and at least two more eye surgeries. ”If we were to have to balance our checkbook and say, ‘Should we pay for his eye surgery because we want him to have a great quality of life and be able to see? Or should we pay for his heart surgery because he needs that to live?’ That’s not really a choice a parent should have to make.”
Jax at 16 months with his brother, Martin, and his sister, Emma
Now that the ACA has prohibited lifetime coverage limits, Martin’s health insurance can continue to help cover his medical expenses—even though Martin suspects they have already exceeded the limits that used to be in place.
“I’m not really sure what we would do if we had the lifetime limit,” says Martin. “Having to make choices like paying our mortgage or paying for our kid’s next heart surgery…”
Since the ACA also prevents health insurance companies from denying people coverage due to pre-existing health conditions, Jax can stay on his parents’ plan until he turns 26—even if they change jobs. And when he’s an adult, he won’t have to worry about being turned down when he applies for a health insurance policy of his own.
“We were very blessed to have great health insurance,” says Martin. “I’ve met quite a few other moms whose kids have the same problems, and they’ve have had to have fundraisers to pay for their kids’ surgeries. That’s not really something I want to have to do in my life.”
More From Women’s Health:
Your Biggest Affordable Care Act Questions—Answered
Your Crash Course on the Affordable Care Act
How Healthcare Reform Helps You
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