Preexisting Conditions to Be Covered Under Affordable Care Act

Описание: (KUTV) A Utah County man with a rare disease goes head to head with Affordable Care Act and wins even though he was dropped by the federal health insurance plan.

"If I don't get the infusions I could die," said 36-year-old Brick Williams from Cedar Hills.

Williams was born with a very rare genetic disease where his immune system doesn't have the ability to fight off sickness. "I felt like I spent my whole childhood in the doctor's office" said Williams.

Williams was 19-years-old when doctors finally diagnosed the problem. To stay alive Williams has to pump himself with medication once a week, it's about a three hour process. "You put three needles into your body and you tape the needles down and you put the medicine into a pump and pump it in," said Williams.

He was told last year that his Insurance was going to drop him January 1, 2014 because of the Affordable Care Act. So his wife started the long and very difficult process of trying to get signed up with the federal health insurance, but couldn't get through the system. "Probably one of the most frustrating things ever attempted on a computer," said Lisa William's, Brick's wife.

The two couldn't understand why they were not accepted when the Affordable Care Act was pitched as being available for pre-existing medical conditions. "It was intended to help families like me that has a condition like this," said Brick.

Without health insurance the family would be stuck paying $3,000-$4,000 a month.

Finally the Williams got approved, but when it came time to ship Brick's medication last week he was told the ACA dropped him. "We called Obama Care and they said yea the problem has come from us and we don't know why we don't know why your policy was terminated," said Brick.

Williams then got both Utah Senator Orin Hatch and Senator Mike Lee involved. Several days later, the Williams say they were suddenly approved again. "We just both started crying and hugging each other," said Lisa.

With the Affordable Care Act, the Williams will pay just over a hundred dollars a month.

Before it was costing them more than $500 a month through their insurance and that was with an assistance program.

Hatch's office sent a statement to 2News saying they work hard to serve Utahns and are very grateful that this case was resolved.

By Dan Rascon

(Copyright 2014 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)