ACA let Crystal stay covered while she cares for aging parent

Note: We’ve been overwhelmed by the number of Nebraskans who wanted to tell us how the health insurance protections of the Affordable Care Act have improved their lives. This is one of those stories.

Crystal S.

The ACA allowed Crystal to have health coverage when she left her job to take care of an aging parent.

I grew up in rural Nebraska and worked in nursing homes all my career. I have used the ACA tax credits since 2015, when I chose to quit my job to take care of my elderly mother.

At that time, my monthly COBRA premium for individual health insurance was over $600. COBRA was not feasible since caregiving for my mother was an unpaid position, and I was planning to live off my personal savings.

Fortunately, my and my husband’s household income qualified us for health insurance tax credits and the lower deductible and out-of-pocket costs. I have continued to use the Health Insurance Marketplace to enroll in insurance. My monthly premiums over three years ranged from $200-$300.

Although this is a significant amount of money for me, the peace of mind and the benefits are worth it.

I am grateful that I can be accepted for health insurance without denial or time exemptions for pre-existing conditions. I also value the free preventive care — flu shots and screenings — as I have a family member who has survived cancer, and this continues to be a health concern. I was initially worried about the costs of my prescriptions when I left my employer’s insurance plan, however, to my surprise, the prescription coverage has been better on my new health exchange plans.  

As my mother’s health declined, I realized it was more important to care for her than to keep my job, as my mother wanted to stay in her home as long as possible.

I am now 61 years old, and while this arrangement has presented challenges at times, it is rewarding to be able to provide this quality of life for my mother and to preserve her financial assets for future long-term care expenses. While my sister and I take turns being the primary caregivers, the success of this plan depends on all of us staying healthy, including our husbands who take care of our personal households.

Good health is everything! Health insurance is vital!

Take Action!

Call the Washington, D.C., offices of Nebraska’s U.S. Senators today and tell them to vote “NO” on the Better Care Reconciliation Act, which will force tens of thousands of Nebraskans to lose their health coverage.

Sen. Deb Fischer (202) 224-6551        Sen. Ben Sasse (202) 224-4224

Every Nebraskan needs affordable health insurance. Any health care bill our Senators support must preserve Medicaid and also make sure to protect people who have preexisting conditions, and cover prescription drugs and important women’s health care.

Nebraskans need health coverage to be more affordable and have stronger protections. Our Senators cannot vote to move us backwards.

Scroll to Top