Legendary tennis champion Billie Jean King knows how devastating this year has beenespecially for people with chronichealth conditions.
Remember, this year more than ever: Champions Adjust, shewrote on Twitterat the time.
Like many people, King also says the pandemic impacted her medical care.
Getty / Noam Galai / Stringer
And shes still hesitant about going to routine doctors appointments.
Ive debated more than I usually do [about going in], she says.
Her answers have been edited and condensed for clarity.
SELF: How are you?
How have you been during the pandemic?
Billie Jean King:Ive been very lucky and the people I know have been very lucky.
I know one person whos gotten sick directly, but Ive been very fortunate.
But they all got better, which is good.
But as she said, a lot of people have not made it.
And we really have to do better.
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With regards to health care, whats at stake in this election?
Health care is so vital to our well-being and it helps psychologically.
And during COVID, I think most people have not gone as often in general.
Our country seems to struggle with health care, especially the cost.
With people losing their jobs [during the pandemic], theyre not going to have health care.
you’re free to go to COBRA, but thats expensive.
The pandemic has made it very difficult for everyone.
A lot of people say they dont have insurance.
So they think they dont need to have it.
In other countries, health care doesnt cost as much and it seems like it works.
Canadians shake their heads at us.
With the Affordable Care Act,Biden wants to extend Medicareand have a public health insurance option for people.
He understands that people want to have choices.
What do you wish more people understood about health issues in the U.S.?
History when you read it is very fast, but when you live it is very slow.
you might work for something and get something passed, likeRoev.Wade.
It took decades and decades to do that, and itlooks like its unraveling now.
You have to start over sometimes.
And your generation is so important obviously for yourselves and for the future.
Withclimate changeits so obvious.
Your age group, I think, better than any age group, gets that.
Were at a critical stage on that.
We have to [take action], we just have to.
Im going to be gone soon, so I dont have to worry about me.
But for children and grandchildren and all those people, we have to.
What else should people keep in mind when they go to vote?
Likewith masks, its not about you only; its about you not getting somebody else sick.
Were voting for our country and the health of our country.
Its about thinking about the other person, not just yourself.
