Say hello to Nicole Nichols. She is struggling to care for her daughter and husband who both have Type 1 Diabetes. She, along with many other parents of diabetic children, has been having trouble with her insurance company not covering the medicine.
Nichols sent all of her representatives an email asking for help:
“Many parents, myself included, have found that while supplies are deemed necessary and technically covered by insurance, we cannot get Medicaid and/or CHIPS [health coverage for children] to pay for them, and suppliers aren’t able to help us.”
“…Is there someone in the legislature that can and will help these children stay healthy? They must have these medications and supplies which administer the medications in order to remain healthy, and quite honestly, alive!”
Not covering their supplies is absolutely criminal. The American Diabetes Association found that it takes around $7,900 to take care of a diabetic person. Nichols’ husband and daughter have diabetes and they pay around $2,000 a month for supplies. Republicans don’t seem to care about the struggles of people with chronic conditions.
Michael R. Strain, a “scholar” at the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute, actually said:
“In a world of scarce resources, a slightly higher mortality rate is an acceptable price to pay for certain goals —including more cash for other programs, such as those that help the poor; less government coercion and more individual liberty; more health-care choice for consumers, allowing them to find plans that better fit their needs; more money for taxpayers to spend themselves; and less federal health-care spending. This opinion is not immoral. Such choices are inevitable. They are made all the time.”
Seriously?! He’s okay with a higher mortality rate? He would rather have people die than help them take care of themselves. This is horribly sickening, and I don’t know how that guy could sleep at night after saying that.
Nicole Nichols received a reply from Representative Jeffrey Guice (R – MS):
This asshole messed with the wrong mom. Nichols has a large online following; she wrote the book for the parents of diabetic children, “Living in the World of Test Strips”. Guice was forced to tuck his tail between his legs and apologize:
“I realize my remarks to Mrs. Nichols were completely insensitive and out of line. I am sorry and deeply regret my reply. I know nothing about her and her family and replied in knee-jerk fashion. I’d like to think the people of Mississippi and my constituents know that I’m willing to help where I am able.”
Nichols told the Sun Herald:
“It was an effort to reach someone who is knowledgeable and would have the heart to help us navigate the situation. I wasn’t asking for a handout. I wasn’t asking for something to be given to us. These children are already eligible for these benefits based on our family’s financial situation. I needed assistance navigating the red tape that surrounds Medicaid.”
Watch as Nichols talks about the situation:
Featured image via Twitter
