It was May 5, 2017. I was relaxing in my bed, scrolling lazily through Facebook, thinking about taking a nap, when I saw this photo on my timeline:

I'm going to start by saying that I didn't initially believe everything on this list, because come on, it's Facebook, and I certainly check my sources. But a little investigation confirmed that yes, this bill garnered enough Republican support to pass the House on May 4, and according to Time Magazine's website, it looks like some of the more ridiculous "pre-existing conditions" listed in the above graphic could actually come into play depending on the insurer.

Hold for a moment while I rant about the obvious things you might expect me, a woman in her 20s, to rant about:

Really? So now we can't get insurance if we keep the baby and we can't have abortions anymore because of not only the intense social stigma, but because of the massive push against Planned Parenthood? Women just can't win! Maybe I should just become a man oh wait I can't because transsexualism is a pre-existing condition, too (that's not to make light of anyone in the LGBTQ+ community, that's to point out the ridiculousness of the situation).

Something else ridiculous? Acne as a pre-existing condition. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne is "the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting up to 50 million Americans annually." Other acne facts from the site? "Acne usually begins in puberty and affects many adolescents and young adults, but it can occur at any stage of life" and "[a]pproximately 85 percent of people between the ages of 12 and 24 experience at least minor acne." A lot of people I know have at least minor acne well into adulthood. Case in point: when I tell people I don't know that I just graduated, they ask me where I'm going to college, assuming that I just graduated from high school. I'd like to think that this is because of my youthful appearance, but part of that is certainly the amount of acne that I still have.

Beyond that, the website states that acne "often causes significant physical and psychological problems such as permanent scarring, poor self-image, depression and anxiety." Ignoring the lack of the Oxford comma there, we see two conditions--depression and anxiety--that are present on the list of pre-existing conditions, as well. Acne leading to depression, anxiety, or both is an example of something called "comorbidity," and it was something I noticed a lot of when I looked over the lists I found while reading up on this new bill. While the above list is quite unspecific when it comes to some things, e.g., "disabilities" or "mental health disorders," which both cover a wide spectrum of conditions, there is a high instance of comorbidity between cancer and depression, for example, as well as depression and addiction.

So why am I ranting so much about acne? Because 1) so many people experience it that it seems ridiculous to me to count it as a "pre-existing condition," and 2) because it seems to be targeting the people who would most likely be looking for healthcare coverage. People my age who might not be working full-time jobs that provide them with health insurance: I've never worked full-time, and although I've been fortunate enough to stay on my mother's plan, I've never been offered insurance. I'm still in that "12-24" acne zone. Which could lead to depression, anxiety, etc. With the statistics showing that approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States experiences mental illness in a given year, this allows insurers to hike up premiums for or even deny coverage to a significant portion of the country.

What do we do? If you want to make your voice heard, call your senator, because that's where this bill is headed next. There's a link to a directory here with contact information for each state's two senators. Call them. Fax them. Tweet them! Some people have written out scripts detailing what to say to influence them. Whatever you say, be clear that you do not want them to vote "yes" on this bill!

If you're comfortable sharing your own experiences, explain how you've benefited from the Affordable Care Act (aka "Obamacare," because apparently people don't know that they're the same thing). You can even tell them that you'll remember how they voted come elections, and it'll play into who you vote for. That should make them sweat a bit.

You can do something about this. Our system of government is far from a true democracy, and even farther from perfect, but you can make your voice heard. Make like Vader and say it loud!