Jimmy Kimmelbegan his show on Monday with an emotional defense of the healthcare system after his son was born needing immediate open-heart surgery in April. The operation was a success, and the baby is now home safe.
But the harrowing experience led Kimmel to make a nonpartisan plea for equal access to good, affordable child healthcare. If your baby is going to die, and it doesnt have to, it shouldnt matter how much money you make, Kimmel told the crowd. Whether youre a Republican or a Democrat or something else, we all agree on that.
Kimmel condemned President Trump for proposing funding cuts for the National Institute of Health, and he praised Obamacare for guaranteeing insurance regardless of preexisting conditions. Until a few years ago, millions and millions of us had no access to health insurance at all, Kimmel said. Before 2014, if you were born with a congenital heart disease like my son was, there was a good chance you would never be able to get health insurance because you had a preexisting condition. If your parents didnt have medical insurance, you might not even live long enough to get denied because of a preexisting condition.
Dont let partisan squabbles divide us on something that every decent person wants, Kimmel concluded. No parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their childs life.