As a mother of two young daughters, I share the universal concerns that many parents have about their children’s futures. Recently, a new worry has emerged: will health care costs undermine their financial stability? Both of my daughters will enter adulthood with pre-existing conditions. My elder daughter has a kidney issue that currently requires no medication or treatment, while my younger daughter has several past diagnoses due to a congenital heart defect. Fortunately, they are both healthy now—active, intelligent, and only occasionally bothered by minor ailments. However, their childhood health issues may place them in the “invisible risk pool” when it comes to insurance.
Recently, the Center for American Progress highlighted that while the American Health Care Act, recently passed by the House, prohibits insurers from denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions, it permits them to charge higher premiums. According to their analysis, those with even mild pre-existing conditions may face thousands of dollars in additional costs for coverage. This prospect troubles me deeply. I envision my daughters—both creative and empathetic—having to navigate a life where they pay significantly more for health insurance compared to their peers. This could prolong their journey to homeownership and complicate their aspirations to start families, all while living frugally to afford insurance that may not even cover the conditions that raised their rates.
I fear that the new regulations could allow insurers to deny coverage for anything related to their existing health issues. For my older daughter, that could mean no coverage for kidney or bladder-related care, while my younger daughter’s coverage might exclude anything concerning her cardiovascular, digestive, or respiratory systems. In my most anxious moments, I picture them in medical offices, with my elder daughter being told that a simple urine pregnancy test won’t be covered, while my younger daughter grapples with whether to pay out-of-pocket for a chest X-ray for pneumonia.
According to a report by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, certain health conditions—classified under “hierarchical condition categories”—are particularly costly for insurers to cover. Those with such conditions are likely to see their premiums rise if the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is repealed. While my older daughter’s condition may not even be listed, I easily found relevant codes for my younger daughter’s health issues. These codes could shape her financial future significantly.
My concerns are not without basis. A study commissioned by the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2001 explored the accessibility of individual health insurance for consumers with less-than-perfect health. The study created hypothetical applicants with various health issues, and the results were alarming: 90% of applicants were unable to secure coverage at standard rates, with many receiving rejections or facing restrictions and surcharges on their policies.
If the ACA is repealed, we may find ourselves returning to this troubling era, exacerbated by the potential elimination of penalties for companies that choose not to offer insurance to their employees. This means that employer-provided insurance could become a thing of the past, forcing many onto the open market.
Among all my fears regarding the consequences of the ACA’s repeal, what weighs heaviest on my heart is the thought that the best option for my daughters might be to relocate to a country with socialized medicine. It’s a heartbreaking consideration; who would want to live in a nation where one’s birth conditions could dictate their financial viability for life? The current trajectory of our health care system leads me to believe that the repeal of the ACA will not only fail to protect us but also make the U.S. less appealing for young people who deserve a fair chance at a secure future.
These thoughts keep me awake at night—not just for my daughters, but for all families facing similar challenges.
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In summary, the future of health insurance and its affordability for my daughters is a source of deep concern. As they grow older, their pre-existing conditions may create barriers to securing affordable coverage, potentially impacting their life choices and financial independence.