My name is Bridget Wendell and I am the Spring Seminary
Intern at the Office of Public Witness.
I am excited to be working with the OPW to advocate for immigrant and
refugee rights as well as domestic justice issues.
Although I am a seminarian at Princeton Theological Seminary, the National
Capital Semester for Seminarians through Wesley Seminary has brought me to DC
for the semester to learn about the intersection of faith and politics. I feel fortunate to be in Washington at this
critical time to advocate for hospitality, acceptance and the gospel
message.
I am personally invested in current issues that are on the
President’s docket. Recently, I enrolled
in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. As a graduate student who typically works
three jobs during the semester, I still had a hard time paying for the school
sanctioned insurance. In trying to steward
my money well and avoid taking out student loans, I struggled to pay my
premiums until I realized I was eligible for the Affordable Care Act.
When I returned to school in the fall, I was able to switch
over to ACA insurance. With my new
insurance, my premiums dropped and I was able to go back to my long-time
doctors, which weren’t covered under my school insurance. It was a relief to be able to get the
services that I needed without being afraid of gigantic bills arriving after
visiting the doctor.
I am not alone in my dependence on the ACA for health
insurance. Thirty million people could lose their health coverage and twelve million people who qualify for financial
assistance will no longer have affordable healthcare if ACA is repealed. Senior’s prescription drug costs will rise
and many African Americans, Latinos and Veterans will return to being
uninsured, which would further exacerbate the racial wealth gap.
Recipients of private insurance will be affected as well. Insurance
companies will once again be able to deny coverage to people with pre-existing
conditions and women will return to paying higher premiums in the middle of
their lives. Lifetime limits could be
re-instituted, making it hard for the sickest people to get care when they need
it most, and companies will no longer have to provide coverage for mental health and substance abuse. It will no longer be required for companies
to provide free preventative services or put premiums towards care instead of
profits.
If a repeal bill is drafted and passed through the House and
Senate, the President can sign it into law.
If this happens, as soon as next year we will see major changes for
people who buy their own health insurance and get their coverage through
Medicaid.
As a second career seminarian, it was hard for me to leave
my job as a public school teacher and the benefits that went along with
it. Being able to enroll in insurance
through the ACA has made it easier for me to follow God in my calling. I am one of the many Americans that will be
adversely affected if ACA is repealed. In
order to support efforts to protect the ACA, please join me in taking the
following action steps:
1. Meet with Members of Congress or staff of in DC
or in district offices to express your concern.
2. Share your story and attend or organize rallies in
support of ACA.
4. Write a letter to the editor to your local newspaper in
support of ACA.
