The nations new health care law is complex, convoluted and controversial.

But in the long run, cancer survivor and health care reform advocate Charlie Kulander believes the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, will help millions of Americans.

Ive found myself becoming somewhat of an Obamacare evangelical, the local freelance writer said this week. Its a complicated piece of legislation, with many moving parts, but it is the greatest piece of social legislation since 1965, and will save countless lives.

Kulander said he hates to wade into the political debate over the 906-page law. But he thinks its wildly inappropriate that someone would tell another person not to sign up for insurance through the new health care marketplace at http://www.healthcare.gov.

The one thing that sticks in everybodys craw is the individual mandate, which requires most Americans to carry some form of health insurance, Kulander said.

Some people may be eligible for exemptions from the individual mandate, he noted. Regardless of the controversy over that provision, though, Kulander is convinced that the overall law has something for everyone.

That includes himself, his wife and his nephew all of whom were diagnosed with cancer in recent years.

Kulander and his wife received the news within eight months of each other almost five years ago.

The couple had maintained their health insurance policies over 25 years, and they were paying exorbitant premiums to remain covered, Kulander said.

Even so, their deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses were high, and they ultimately wound up taking on debt in order to pay for their medical care.

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Cancer survivor becomes health care reform advocate