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Jimmy Kimmel tells of newborn son's illness | Jimmy Kimmel tells of newborn son's illness |
(10 days later) | |
US television host Jimmy Kimmel has tearfully told of his newborn son's illness and brush with death last week. | US television host Jimmy Kimmel has tearfully told of his newborn son's illness and brush with death last week. |
At the end of his story he made a plea for people to support the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. | At the end of his story he made a plea for people to support the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. |
He said: "No parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their child's life." | He said: "No parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their child's life." |
President Trump made repealing Obamacare one of the central tenets of his campaign, castigating its costs and calling it a "disaster". | President Trump made repealing Obamacare one of the central tenets of his campaign, castigating its costs and calling it a "disaster". |
In March his attempt to replace it failed, in an embarrassing setback for the new administration, but Republicans still aim to change the system. | In March his attempt to replace it failed, in an embarrassing setback for the new administration, but Republicans still aim to change the system. |
Kimmel - a fixture of late-night TV in the US and host of this year's Oscars - told the studio audience on his regular show that three hours after a normal birth, his son Billy started to turn purple. | Kimmel - a fixture of late-night TV in the US and host of this year's Oscars - told the studio audience on his regular show that three hours after a normal birth, his son Billy started to turn purple. |
One nurse spotted it and took him away for checks, soon finding that he had a heart illness. The situation looked serious, and "we had atheists praying for us," he said. | One nurse spotted it and took him away for checks, soon finding that he had a heart illness. The situation looked serious, and "we had atheists praying for us," he said. |
But Billy went through open heart surgery at three days old and, thanks to the efforts of the staff at the children's hospital, he survived. | But Billy went through open heart surgery at three days old and, thanks to the efforts of the staff at the children's hospital, he survived. |
Other stories that may interest you: | Other stories that may interest you: |
"You know, before 2014, if you were born with congenital heart disease like my son was, there was a good chance you wouldn't be able to get health insurance because you had a pre-existing condition," Kimmel said. | "You know, before 2014, if you were born with congenital heart disease like my son was, there was a good chance you wouldn't be able to get health insurance because you had a pre-existing condition," Kimmel said. |
"If your parents didn't have medical insurance, you might not live long enough to even get denied." | "If your parents didn't have medical insurance, you might not live long enough to even get denied." |
He continued: "If your baby is going to die and doesn't have to it shouldn't matter how much money you make. | He continued: "If your baby is going to die and doesn't have to it shouldn't matter how much money you make. |
"I mean I think that's something that whether you're a Republican or a Democrat or something else - we all agree on that, right?" | "I mean I think that's something that whether you're a Republican or a Democrat or something else - we all agree on that, right?" |
"This isn't football. There are no teams; we are the team. No parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their child's life. It just shouldn't happen, not here." | "This isn't football. There are no teams; we are the team. No parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their child's life. It just shouldn't happen, not here." |
One of the people behind the Affordable Care Act, Andy Slavitt, tweeted that those who watched Mr Kimmel's monologue should use it as inspiration to lobby Congress. | One of the people behind the Affordable Care Act, Andy Slavitt, tweeted that those who watched Mr Kimmel's monologue should use it as inspiration to lobby Congress. |
Barack Obama himself thanked Mr Kimmel for his defense of Obamacare, tweeting: "Well said, Jimmy. That's exactly why we fought so hard for the ACA, and why we need to protect it for kids like Billy." | Barack Obama himself thanked Mr Kimmel for his defense of Obamacare, tweeting: "Well said, Jimmy. That's exactly why we fought so hard for the ACA, and why we need to protect it for kids like Billy." |
"And congratulations!" the ex-president added. | "And congratulations!" the ex-president added. |
Remind me, what is Obamacare? | Remind me, what is Obamacare? |
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the law's formal name, aims to decelerate the growth of US health spending, which is the highest in the world. | The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the law's formal name, aims to decelerate the growth of US health spending, which is the highest in the world. |
Obamacare is kept solvent by an individual mandate that requires Americans who do not receive medical insurance through their employers, or free healthcare from the government, to have such coverage. | |
The programme offers subsidies to make health insurance more affordable and aims to reduce the cost of such policies by bringing younger, healthier people into the medical coverage system. | The programme offers subsidies to make health insurance more affordable and aims to reduce the cost of such policies by bringing younger, healthier people into the medical coverage system. |
Obamacare also requires businesses with more than 50 full-time employees to offer health insurance. | Obamacare also requires businesses with more than 50 full-time employees to offer health insurance. |
Why is it so controversial? | Why is it so controversial? |
There are around 20 million additional Americans who now have health insurance under the law. | There are around 20 million additional Americans who now have health insurance under the law. |
But the programme has been rocked by premium hikes - which were a problem before Obamacare - and a trio of national insurers abandoning the online marketplaces. | But the programme has been rocked by premium hikes - which were a problem before Obamacare - and a trio of national insurers abandoning the online marketplaces. |
Its individual mandate is unpopular because many uninsured Americans who end up paying tax penalties are low-to-moderate income workers juggling rent, car payments or student loans. | Its individual mandate is unpopular because many uninsured Americans who end up paying tax penalties are low-to-moderate income workers juggling rent, car payments or student loans. |
But the law is popular, too, because it bans insurance companies from denying health coverage to people with pre-existing health conditions and allows young people to remain on their parents' plans until age 26. | But the law is popular, too, because it bans insurance companies from denying health coverage to people with pre-existing health conditions and allows young people to remain on their parents' plans until age 26. |
Obamacare has also defied Republican predictions that it would bloat government expenditure. | Obamacare has also defied Republican predictions that it would bloat government expenditure. |