Faces of Change: Emily's Health Care Story December 18, 2011

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Tell five friends they should be with us in 2012: http://my.barackobama.com/emilyvid

"The thing about health is that while you have it you don't think about it--you don't have to. But when you don't have it anymore it becomes the only thing that matters."

Emily is not your typical college student. Driven, smart, and funny, nothing could delay her from achieving her goals. Then one week during Emily's freshmen year she contracted a fever. The fever peaked from 105 to 106 degrees, finally breaking after six days. Still not feeling fully recovered, Emily and her family decided to see a doctor.

After numerous doctors and in Emily's words, "a constellation of symptoms," Emily was diagnosed with Behcet's disease.

Emily conquered the disease that would have her bedridden for weeks. Emily, now twenty-one years old, is ready for her next battle; dedicating the rest of her career to health policy. She wants to make sure that every dollar spent on insurance goes farther and cares for more people.

A new CDC report shows that 2.5 million young people have access to health care through the Affordable Care Act that they wouldn't have had otherwise. The previous estimate was one million.

Emily goes on to say: "I'm the person that's going to need that insurance in two and a half years when I graduate. I don't have to worry about having a pre-existing condition and being denied from billions of insurance plans."

Help spread the word: Reach out to five folks who are affected by this reform and ask them to stand with the Affordable Care Act: http://my.barackobama.com/emilyvid