Vanessa-Care: Health Coverage Without Lifetime Limits

Vanessa Mishkit, a nurse in Tampa, knows firsthand what it�s like to go up against insurance companies on behalf of her child.

Her son was born with birth defects: developmentally delayed, legally blind, and near deaf. And even though Vanessa had health insurance through work at Tampa General Hospital, she was constantly fighting for her son�s coverage: He was born with a pre-existing condition.

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�I had what I thought was excellent health insurance, and then after David was born we received notification that he had met his million-dollar limit and he wouldn�t be eligible for coverage,� Vanessa says.�

�There are thousands and thousands of families� who are in similar situations, she says. �They can�t advocate for themselves at this time because they�re caught up in day-to-day survival.� Vanessa points out that the Affordable Care Act now prevents insurance companies from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. �We fought a huge battle and now with health care reform� other families won�t have to fight just to keep their keep their children well, she says.

In 2014, insurance companies will be barred from discriminating against anyone with pre-existing conditions. Additionally, the health reform law bars low annual and lifetime caps on claims, a way that insurance companies have used to avoid paying claims.

David �has a heart of gold and now I�m looking at him and he�s 23 years old. He is learning how to take as well care of himself as he possibly can within his limitations. I�m very proud of him,� Vanessa says.

The Affordable Care Act is designed to give hard working families the peace of mind they deserve in meeting their health care needs.

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