As a breast cancer survivor, I know what it’s like to live every day with a pre-existing condition. When I listen to other North Dakotans with pre-existing conditions — like asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or pregnancy — talk about their health care trials and triumphs, I hear stories that are probably familiar to most North Dakotans. Ultimately, they’re the experiences of our neighbors, our kids, and ourselves.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it will no longer actively defend in court critical health care protections for individuals and children with pre-existing conditions, potentially impacting over 300,000 North Dakotans with pre-existing conditions.

Under current federal law, health insurers are prohibited from denying coverage or charging more for individuals with pre-existing conditions, but the administration is now changing that and stripping critical health protections from individuals and children in need of affordable care. No family should have face bankruptcy to be able to afford lifesaving care for a loved one. The administration needs to stop playing reckless games with the health of North Dakotans — and as I’ve said before, no one should support this effort.

With so many North Dakotans now at risk of losing critical health coverage, I helped introduced a resolution that would allow the U.S. Senate to take legal action to protect them. As I have been doing for the past several years, I’ll keep working on solutions that Republicans and Democrats should be able to agree on to enable North Dakotans to get affordable care, prevent disproportionate increases in health care costs, and protect our fellow North Dakotans with pre-existing conditions.

But don’t just listen to me talk about the severe impact of taking away affordable care for those with pre-existing conditions. Listen to the North Dakotans who would be directly hurt by the administration’s harsh action. Watch their stories here:

Mary and Sam from Bismarck

Mary’s son Sam is 27 years old and has a brain abnormality called Lissencephaly, which means he requires 24 hour care, a wheelchair, oxygen, hospital bed, mechanical lift, a special van, and many medications. In addition, his condition causes severe epilepsy. Without health insurance that includes coverage for pre-existing conditions, Mary is worried that they may face bankruptcy to get Sam the critical health care health care and support he needs to live.

Wayne and Belva from Bismarck

Belva, an oncology nurse from Bismarck was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998 and again in 2015. Her husband, Wayne, had a heart attack while she was undergoing treatment. As survivors who live with pre-existing conditions every day, it’s critical that they continue to receive health care coverage. Belva warns that we’re all just one diagnosis away from having to worry about whether we’ll be able to continue to have health care coverage or whether we’ll be able to afford it. Keeping pre-existing conditions protections shouldn’t be a hard choice.

Kathryn and Valerie from Mandan

Valerie in Mandan has several pre-existing conditions. She was born 10 weeks early, and had open heart surgery at three months old. After spending over 100 days in the hospital, she now requires a team of doctors and specialists to make sure she gets the care she needs to develop and stay healthy. Hear from her mom, Kathryn, about the challenges they would face without access to affordable health care coverage.

Randi and Aspen from Rugby

Randi from Rugby shared the story of her son Aspen, who was diagnosed with a rare form of childhood cancer. If the administration fails to defend health care coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, parents like Randi will not be able to get necessary health care for their children and families.

Karalee from Bismarck

Pushing back against the administration’s decision to not defend health care coverage for those with pre-existing conditions is critical for Karalee from Bismarck, who has had two heart surgeries, has fibromyalgia, diabetes, and an inoperable brain tumor. Without health insurance that includes coverage for pre-existing conditions, it would be impossible for her to afford health care or to get health care at all.

Chris from Bismarck

Chris and his wife from Bismarck have two sons, one with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the other with a rare genetic disorder requiring multiple weekly therapy sessions. Without affordable health care coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, they could be forced into a plan that doesn’t cover the care they need to keep their family healthy.

Annelise from Bismarck

Annelise in Bismarck was diagosed type 1 diabetes in 2010, six days before her 6th birthday. Now 15 years old, she explains all the different medical supplies — which come at serious costs —that she needs to be able to use each day to stay healthy. Without coverage for her pre-existing condition, the cost of basic necessities like insulin would be impossible to afford.

Amanda from Fargo

Amanda in Fargo — a wife, and mom to two daughters — was diagnosed with cancer and a genetic condition in 2013, putting her at higher risk for developing other cancers. Without affordable health care coverage, she would be unable to receive the multiple life-saving screenings she needs each year. Amanda’s family deserves better, and they don’t deserve to be penalized for something they can’t control.

The administration should stop playing games with the health and wellbeing of North Dakotans with serious and chronic illnesses — and I’ll keep pushing for commonsense, bipartisan ways to keep more North Dakotans insured, prevent skyrocketing health care increases for the elderly, and protect our friends and neighbors with pre-existing conditions.

With so many North Dakotans — including children — in need of quality health care who now risk losing access to it, I’m continuing to fight for pragmatic solutions to make health care more affordable and accessible. That’s just the right thing to do. And it’s something we should all be able to agree on.