I am the mother of two children with special needs, one much more significant than the other. My daughter has multiple disabilities that will be lifelong and are life-threatening. Her care is costly. Her needs are great. She will need care all of her life, and her medical expenses will surely increase. The Affordable Care Act is crucial to people like her. Without it, her life is literally put at risk.

The ACA puts forth protections that she would not otherwise have. Unless the law says you must give her coverage, she will not be offered coverage. She needs the ACA to live the best life she can live. She was born with multiple pre-existing conditions. These are of no fault of her own, nor mine.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the ACA’s individual mandate is unconstitutional, which means the Trump administration could be one step closer to repealing the ACA. A repeal will negatively affect my child and many, many just like her.

Please know that 20 million Americans have been able to obtain health coverage because of the ACA and 135 million receive protections for preexisting conditions through the law.

We need to hold the Trump administration and our elected officials accountable because, without the ACA, millions of people, like my beautiful daughter, could lose their health care with no fault of their own.

Toni Danchik

Bethel Park

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