Silicon Valley executive Ken Norton lost his son Riley to a severe and preexisting heart condition in 2014.
Years later, and amid the fight from Senate Republicans to pass a new health care bill that would leave 22 million people uninsured, Norton took to Twitter Monday to praise the insurance coverage that kept his son alive for 11 years.
Norton's personal tie with health coverage took a turn in 2003 when his son was born with a heart defect. Thanks to "excellent healthcare" provided by Norton's job, Riley benefitted from health coverage throughout his young life.
Multiple heart operations during Riley's time tallied bills in excess of $3 million, Norton tweeted. Those costs were covered by Norton's insurer, which couldn't deny Norton's family based on Riley's preexisting condition.
"We got 11.5 years with Riley because the very best doctors in the world did everything they could for him, without regard for cost," Norton tweeted.
Former President Barack Obama's touted Affordable Care Act continued to provide Norton with much-needed insurance coverage. Admittedly, he legislation "wasn't perfect, and it needs fixing," Norton tweeted.
"But I'm here to tell you that there is no 'us and them,'" Norton tweeted. "No responsible taxpayers and irresponsible moochers, we are them and they are us."
Local
The new senate bill, named the Better Care Reconciliation Act, would cut the deficit by $202 billion, but the risk of cutting coverage to millions of Americans is not worth it, according to Norton.
"Nobody should ever have to endure what Riley did, but if and when we do, we deserve the best care available and the promise that our society stands with us ready to help," Norton tweeted.
The possibility of a new health care bill remains on hold Tuesday. Senate Republican leaders have delayed a vote on the bill until after the Fourth of July recess.
2/ First, please meet my son Riley. He was smart and funny and happy. He died at 11 years old in 2014 and I miss him so much. pic.twitter.com/VoeSuYYWmk
— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017
3/ Riley was born with a preexisting condition in 2003: a severe heart defect. Nobody knew ahead of time, it was a surprise— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017
4/ Fortunately we had excellent healthcare through my job. For the next 11 years, *nothing* was more important to me than having coverage— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017
5/ His multiple heart surgeries and hospitalizations rang up more than $3 million in bills, all of which were paid by my insurer...— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017
6/ Who came through my employer and was required to cover me, and could not deny him due to preexisting condition. No annual or lifetime max— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017
7/ Here are a few examples, that folder is filled with them. Other than a $100 copay for each hospitalization, note the NO MEMBER COPAY. pic.twitter.com/FvR6el00om
— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017
8/ We got 11 ½ years with Riley because the very best doctors in the world did everything they could for him, without regard for cost.— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017
9/ We focused on giving him a happy life instead of bankruptcy, GoFundMes, or taking second or third jobs that would take us away from him.— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017
10/ Even then, our lives were upended. I wanted to start a company, or join a very early stage startup. I could not risk losing coverage.— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017
11/ Nor could I purchase it myself due to his preexisting condition. Even the 18 months of COBRA scared the hell out of me.— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017
12/ When a family member is this severely sick, even the tiniest chance of going without health coverage is terrifying and means bankruptcy— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017
13/ But here’s the thing: there are no “healthy” and “sick” people. Healthy people can turn into sick people really fucking suddenly.— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017
14/ Riley was fortunate to be born into a family that had good jobs with top-notch health insurance. There’s nothing special about us.— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017
15/ The ACA offered that to *everyone* It wasn’t perfect, and it needs fixing. Everyone agrees with that.— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017
16/ But I’m here to tell you that there is no “us and them” no responsible taxpayers and irresponsible moochers, we are them and they are us— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017
17/ Nobody should ever have to endure what Riley did, but if and when we do, we deserve the best care available...— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017
18/ ...and the promise that our society stands with us ready to help— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017
19/ I don’t want a tax cut. I want everybody to have what we had. Because we are humans. Fin. I love you kid. �� pic.twitter.com/gzPmjjnOqH
— Ken Norton (@kennethn) June 26, 2017