NCS Alumna in the News

 

Let me just tell folks a few stories that are represented here today.  A few years ago, Amanda Barrett left her job in New York to take care of her parents.  And for a while, she had temporary insurance that covered her multiple sclerosis.  But when it expired, many insurers wouldn’t cover her because of her MS.  And she ended up paying $1,200 a month.  That’s nowhere near affordable. So starting today, she can get covered for much less, because today’s new plan can’t use your medical history to charge you more than anybody else.--Remarks by the President on the Affordable Care Act and the Government Shutdown Oct. 1, 2013.

How did this come to pass? “A friend of a friend posted a question on Facebook asking who was signing up for healthcare. I told her my story and she sent it to the White House,” said Barrett.

Barrett’s appearance led to others: on Oct. 2 she was on MSNBC with HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius; that segment can be seen here.

The Barrett family has many ties to the Close community: Amanda’s sister Melissa also went to NCS (Class of '85) and her brother Scott, to St. Albans (Class of  '80). Amanda moved back to DC in spring 2011 to care for her parents, who both passed away that year. Formerly head of marketing for Mediabistro, she now consults in digital strategy and marketing for “social good companies”—“organizations that believe you do well by doing good.”