With U.S. election day drawing ever closer, Jimmy Kimmel paused his show on Thursday to make a point about healthcare — and particularly those born with pre-existing conditions, whose protection under the Affordable Care Act may be at risk from members of the Republican Party.
"The vast majority of this country agrees that health insurance should cover Americans with pre-existing conditions," says Kimmel in the clip above. "But the Republican party — and that includes the president and members of Congress — the only plan they have is to do away with protections for pre-existing conditions."
The host says that millions of people are going to suffer if this is allowed to happen, before going on to share a video that his wife Molly made about their three-year-old son, Billy.
"My wife Molly made a video that deals with our experience with pre-existing conditions, and we'd like you to watch this and pass it around to anyone who may have forgotten what this election is really about," he says.
Over footage and images of Billy in the hospital, we learn that he was born with congenital heart defects — a pre-existing condition that has led to him having three heart surgeries and over 60 doctors' appointments in three years.
"Before Obamacare health insurance companies were able to refuse coverage for those with pre-existing conditions," reads the text in the video. "Families go broke trying to keep their loved ones alive.
"People die because they cannot afford to live."
