A Reflection on the Healing Power of the Affordable Care Act (by Peter Witzler)

On June 17, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision on a group of cases from several states that challenged the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the health care law. This was the third challenge to the ACA rejected by the Court, and a huge relief for many families. Peter Witzler, a member of Little Lobbyists, reflects on this momentous day.

Peter Witzler and his family. [image description: A white-appearing father, mother and two young boys pose with their black dog in a wooded area near a stream. All are smiling.]

Today felt like an immense weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Like a nagging voice in my head had finally been silenced. Like our family could continue to dream, plan, love, and laugh without making a series of impossible choices linking our family’s finances to the well-being of our son Jackson: Could we afford to do what's medically best for Jackson? What would give him the best chance at a healthy, independent life? Without bankrupting our family?

That's because today, the Supreme Court once again affirmed that the Affordable Care Act and Patient Protection and Affordability Act (the ACA) is the law of the land. An effort led by Republican Attorneys General to overturn a key provision, the ACA’s protection for pre-existing conditions, has been defeated.

Jackson was born with a pre-existing condition. Despite excellent prenatal care, his extremely rare form of Spina Bifida went undetected. When he was born, a hush fell across the room as doctors, nurses, his mom Lisa and I saw a mass the size of a softball on his lower back. After being transferred to Children's National Medical Center, we began the first of several long stays in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). During his first six months of life, Jackson totalled four months in hospitals, three brain surgeries, and a whopping multi-million dollars in medical bills. Thanks to the protections of the ACA that were confirmed again today, as well as my union-negotiated health insurance, we were able to do what was best for Jackson.

Peter and Lisa with Jackson just before his first surgery at three-and-a-half months. [image description: Two white-appearing parents hold their infant son, who wears a Superman cape.]

The ACA is something we constantly benefit from. We made investments in care, therapies, treatment, and supports for Jackson early on in his life. When he started turning blue and gasping for air, we were able to seek specialists, a diagnosis, and learn to use a feeding tube so he could continue to grow strong. He’s had two additional surgeries, and we know there are more in his future to correct his severe scoliosis. We can plan for this and more with the security of knowing he cannot be denied care for simply being born.

These significant investments in his health early on have made him into a mischievous, independent six-year-old who loves getting into trouble with his big brother Teddy. These early investments mean he is on track for independence, lower intensity supports, and fewer healthcare costs as he grows older and stronger.

As a fourth-generation union member, my job gave my family the means of wages, job security, and benefits to achieve the American Dream. But even collective bargaining was unable to protect working families from an insurance executive who wanted another yacht. When Jackson was born, we could have been knocked right off track. Instead, we relied on the protections of the ACA to keep moving. Instead, we’re still working toward our American Dream.

Peter Witzler lives in Gaithersburg, Maryland, with his wife Lisa, his two kids, Teddy (9) and Jackson (6), and their pandemic-adopted dog Gabby. He enjoys sharing his love of nature and food with his family, and enjoys brewing a new batch of beer with the East Rockville Brewers Guild.