[brildum]

As someone who has chronic back problems, I cannot agree with this more. I've wanted to start a company for some time, but my increased risk for significant medical care/procedures has somewhat anchored me to working for others.

[joelhaus]

Don't particularly agree with this line of reasoning on two grounds:

(i) Greater access to capital means that more startups should be able to include health coverage in their pay packages.

(ii) The Affordable Care Act implemented plans in every state that cover pre-existing conditions until all plans will be required to do so in 2014[1].

P.S. Having dealt with chronic low back pain for the past decade, I can definitely relate... on the plus side, I recently found a traction device that has all but eliminated my issues. Feel free to reach out if you think it might help and I'll send details.

P.P.S. Regarding the OP's petition, while it's clearly helpful to show public support, this seems a bit too rigid: "We ask the Senate to act swiftly, without amendments that may weaken key provisions".

Amending the legislation would potentially help to address the opposition to this bill (at the very least, the petition should recognize the detractors point-of-view to demonstrate that signers are aware and have voiced their support regardless)[2].

[1] https://www.pcip.gov/FAQ.html

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumpstart_Our_Business_Startups...

[wes-exp]

IIRC, assuming Obamacare is still intact come 2014, health insurers will not be able to discriminate against pre-existing conditions.

[nantes]

<pedantic> Down voted for using for using the pejorative 'Obamacare'. The thing actually has a real name (and it doesn't even make some bad acronym), it is the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act". </pedantic>

[Nate75Sanders]

Odd. I know plenty of liberals/Democrats/etc who call it Obamacare. They don't mean anything negative by it. It's a hell of a lot shorter than call it the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act".

[nantes]

Perhaps I am just sensitive to being fairly liberal in a pretty conservative area. The vast majority (read: all, until now apparently) of the times I hear the term, it's definitely used negatively. I understand the formal name is a bit cumbersome, but it's accurate and a lot less ambiguous. Of those I know who don't use 'Obamacare' or the actual name, using the simple healthcare reform act seems to work well.

My apologies for turning this into a political argument. My intention was to try to check some perceived bias. Looks like I over-corrected.