The Post in Which I Praise Barack Obama.

Have you picked your jaw off the floor yet? Don't worry, I haven't completely lost it (yet), so just hear me out.

By now, most of you probably know that I am not, nor ever will be, the president of the Barack Obama fan club.

But this post isn't about the 901 things I dislike about our head honcho. Here is where I am going to say the (very) few things I actually like about him and/or some of the decisions he has made.

1. I like that he broke the mold and became the first non-Caucasian president. Speaking of which, did you get the memo that he is bi-racial? K, good.

2. I like that he proved one need not be a geriatric to win the title of President of the United States of America.

3. I like that he proved one need not be a southerner in order to lead this fine country.

4. And last but not least (hey, I said there were very few things, did I not?), I like *parts* -- really, only two provisions-- of the new health bill.

What parts, you make ask? The part that says children can stay on their parents' insurance until the age of 26. And the part that says people may not be denied or dropped from insurance because of pre-existing conditions. I thought these were good ideas when I first heard them, but now that they apply to me, I like them even better.

When I turned 23, I was released from my parents insurance, per the company's policy. While this sucks, I moved on and applied for insurance with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (they are the only health insurers in Indiana), thinking I would have coverage and all would be right in the world.

Apparently sometimes I'm a little too naive for my own good.

I was denied coverage.

After spending an hour on the phone filling out the bloody application, I get denied. I want my hour back, Anthem, ya hear?

If you know anything about me, you know I'm not the healthiest person this side of the Western world. I'm not dying, but I do have a handful of chronic issues. But these issues, according to the gems at the insurance company, earned me the label of being "high risk" and that I have "too many pre-existing conditions to be covered."

I beg your pardon? So what you're telling me is that someone who needs health coverage so she can get her medicine and keep her body in check is too unhealthy to be covered?

If any of that makes sense to any of you, please enlighten me.

Like I said, I'm not dying. And every pre-existing condition I have is out of my control. It's not like I'm on blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes medicine because I'm morbidly obese and could just lose weight and be cured. I have migraines (neurological), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) (endocrine and reproductive), asthma/chronic bronchitis (respiratory), and fibromyalgia (neurological). I certainly have far more issues than a 23-year-old should have, but such are the cards I was dealt and I can't help it. All of the above can be managed, but not cured. And all of the above, generally speaking, and as is the case for me, are hereditary. It just boggles my mind that they find it suitable to say, "Thanks, but no, thanks."

Because I was denied coverage for something so trivial, I can only imagine how many other people are denied coverage daily. And chances are, some of them have worse-- and possibly life-threatening-- conditions than me. I don't know about you, but to me, that's scary. If one can afford coverage, is willing to dish out the money for it, but is still denied-- well, clearly there is something wrong with the system.

So, Barry (I can call you that, can't I?), I applaud you and your decision to tell insurance companies to get their heads out of their asses and stop giving coverage to only the healthy people of this country.

And the part about being covered until 26? I love this for a few reasons. One: My dad's company will allow me (er-- has to allow me) to rejoin my parents' plan in January. Two: I'll graduate nursing school at 25. God willing, I'll have a job before I'm 26 that provides good health coverage in its benefits package. This would mean that I would never have to be on my own insurance plan. More money in my pocket + the opportunity to never be denied coverage again = happy, happy Marianne.

You see? I can find a positive in every negative. I may not like Obama 98.46241% of the time, but sometimes, I do agree with him. And once in a (great) while, the decisions he's made save my tuchis and countless others', I'm sure.

In honor of that hiney saving, I raise my glass to you, Mr. Obama.

But just this once.