Editorial from USA Today

Why is Congress trying to take away my insurance? By Emily Schlichting When I was 17, I started experiencing a lot of seemingly unrelated symptoms. None of my doctors could figure out what was causing them. Finally, after two years of undergoing MRIs and CAT scans, visiting specialists and a week-long stay in a hospital my freshman year of college, I was diagnosed with Behcet's Disease, a very rare auto-immune condition. This was a lot to deal with at 19. But I was one of the lucky ones. My parents have good health insurance, and thanks to that coverage, I received the care I needed. I didn't have to worry about where my care was coming from while trying to cope with a disease that was quickly changing my life. As my doctors got my symptoms under control, I was able to start planning for my future. But I soon realized that even though I had great health insurance coverage through my parents, I might not always have access to the care that I need. When you are chronically ill like me, good health insurance is the difference between living life with a disease or your disease leading your life. Political gamesmanship When House Republicans recently voted to take away my health care, I got angry. In fact, this was the 33rd time Republicans had voted to repeal or defund the Affordable Care Act. Fortunately, the Senate has no plans to go along with the House. Even so, I used to think that if I could just talk with those lawmakers opposed to the law, I could tell my story and make them understand what the Affordable Care Act means for me. And then Republicans would move on. But people are so mired in the political game that my personal story -- and those of millions like me -- don't get told. That needs to change. With health insurance coverage tied to the job, career opportunities can become limited. I had planned to work at a non-profit for a couple of years before I went back to school. But that was no longer an option because I would have dropped off my parents' insurance plan. And it hit me. For the rest of my life, I would have to be careful not to ever drop off an insurance plan. If I did, an insurance company would classify my disease as a pre-existing condition and could deny me coverage. Unnecessary worry No one should have to live with that sort of uncertainty and fear. No one should have her career options limited because she can't afford to risk being without heath insurance. Because ObamaCare provided me the option to stay on my parent's insurance until I was 26 -- as it has for 3.1 million other young people -- it gave me the time and flexibility to choose a career path I love rather than one that offers me insurance. You cannot overstate the importance of such freedom. Although I might have a unique disease, I am not alone. There are millions like me who are struggling with a pre-existing condition, or who are right out of college and trying to find a good job -- or both. Some might think that because I'm only 22, I'm young or naive. And I understand that fighting, and refighting battles, is what politics is all about. Nevertheless, I refuse to believe that fighting to take away people's health care is the best we can do as a country. I will continue to tell my story until every member of Congress understands that health care isn't about politics. It's about people's lives. It's about MY life. Emily Schlichting is a Truman-Albright Fellow through the Truman Foundation, a one-year program aimed at public service leadership.