Kristin Carlson of Cincinnati introduced First Lady Michelle Obama in a crowded hall at the Duke Energy Convention Center last Tuesday before a crowd of 7,800. Carlson also introduced her son Joseph, standing by her side, who has continuing medical bills as a result of having liver cancer when he was two-years old. She said that Joseph will need continuing care and treatments that will last throughout his life because of hearing problems and other complications of the disease. Joseph's "last and only hope" was to be put on a liver transport list. Joseph, now in six grade, received a donor liver.
Carlson talked about the health care insurance she had that had a lifetime cap that once reached would no longer pay for her son's care. She said she was frightened after talking to other parents about how her son would not be eligible for health care insurance as an adult because providers would be able to reject Joseph because of his pre-existing condition. She said however, that because of the Affordable Care Act and President Obama, "We don't have to worry about those things anymore."
When Mrs. Obama spoke, she also praised the benefits of the Affordable Care Act to families like Joseph and Kristin Carlson. She said, "And, as you saw how important it is to Joseph, if you get a serious illness and you need expensive treatment... no longer can they tell you sorry you've hit your lifetime limit and we're not paying a penny more. That is now illegal because of health care reform."
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