Continuing the march for healthcare

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there’s another season to recognize: we’re in the middle of Open Season for health insurance. This opportunity is personal for me. More than 10 years ago, I marched arm in arm to the U.S. Capitol with my Democratic colleagues, including the late, great civil rights champion Congressman John Lewis. We walked together to cast our votes for a critical civil rights bill: the Affordable Care Act. As we headed to the Capitol to cast our votes for what became known as “Obamacare,” angry protestors shouted at us and hurled insults. President Obama and supporters of affordable health care like me faced huge political backlash from those who wanted to maintain the status quo instead of dismantling discrimination in the healthcare system and giving all Americans quality, affordable health insurance.& But we kept marching – and the Affordable Care Act prevailed. It’s easy to forget just what it took to pass this monumental legislation, and how it completely transformed our healthcare system. Before the Affordable Care Act, those with pre-existing conditions could be denied coverage, and if you did not have insurance through your employer, the price of health insurance was simply out of reach. Today, thanks...