Former House Dem reveals multiple sclerosis diagnosis in healthcare plea

[Judi Lynn]

Source: The Hill

BY OLIVIA BEAVERS - 07/09/17 10:59 AM EDT






A former House Democrat is revealing her battle with multiple sclerosis in an op-ed pleading for lawmakers to maintain healthcare coverage for people with preexisting conditions.

Former Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) said she is worried she won't be able to cover medical costs of nearly $100,000 a year.

"But I pray that as you finish doing whatever it is that you are doing with health care, you remember that I was one of your colleagues, that I worked hard and that I don’t have a preexisting condition because I was a bad person who led an unhealthy life," Edwards wrote Friday in The Washington Post.

"I have a preexisting condition simply because I do; and I, like millions of other Americans in the same situation, deserve quality, affordable health care," she continued.


Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/341181-former-house-dem-reveals-multiple-sclerosis-diagnosis-in-healthcare-plea

[Honeycombe8]

1. Well, too bad she's black...and female. The Repubs won't listen to someone like THAT.

And the rest of us don't need to hear it, because we agree with providing health care for all, to begin with.

I really think that MOST Repubs listen only to white males.

[CountAllVotes]

2. Sad to read this

Ms. Edwards is in for a hell of a ride. MS is a very cruel disease and very costly if you are into using the drugs they have out there that run as high as $15K/month.

Kudos to her for speaking up.

Try to stay well if you can Ms. Edwards!

[50 Shades Of Blue]

3. Oh no :(

[elleng]

4. ;-(

[elleng]

5. For more detail:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/to-my-colleagues-in-congress-i-have-ms-dont-make-my-insurance-unaffordable/2017/07/07/bd7bcaea-630b-11e7-8adc-fea80e32bf47_story.html?utm_term=.1a5b2e7551c1

I'm very sad to read this; she would have been my (junior) Senator, had she beaten Chris VanHollen. Must say I can't complain about my Reps here in MD, but I'm very sad for Donna. A number of us here supported her candidacy.

[riversedge]

9. This is a heartbreaking open letter she wrote in the WP--but glad she did and

hope against hope some Republicans have a heart and read this seriously.
I am going to forward to Maddow, chris hayes, Lawrence -maybe they will ask her for an interview...



.............I’ve learned a lot about MS since that day. It’s likely that I have had the disease for the past decade, undiagnosed. I’ve learned that more than 400,000 Americans have MS, that it’s not fatal and that it affects different people in different ways. Once I received my diagnosis, I was determined to find a great neurologist, which I did. I read up on the latest treatments and research studies. I wanted to take control of my treatment. I also knew that I was fortunate to be diagnosed relatively early and to have great health-care coverage, which enabled me to take care of my medical needs without worrying.

A year later, I am no longer in Congress, and my future health care is uncertain. I am not employed, and I pay $800 a month for my COBRA coverage, which ends in June 2018. I’m not sure what I’ll do then. My medication, which has thankfully halted the progression of my MS, costs roughly $73,000 a year. I’ve had three sets of MRI scans and will require one each year to check my progress; that’s roughly $7,000 each. I admit, I do not completely understand all of the bills. It’s very confusing.

Unlike some of you, I am not wealthy. When I was younger, I had the experience of not having health insurance, and I almost lost my home after landing in the emergency room. One reason I ran for Congress was to help make sure no one would have to go through that, and I was proud to be one of the presiding officers when the Affordable Care Act passed. I did not think the law was perfect; I believed it was a good start. I never thought I could have to go back to a time when I would not have health-care coverage.

And yet, with the health-care bills you are now advancing, here I am. If we return to a time when people with preexisting conditions can be charged more than healthy people, it will surely result in my never being able to afford insurance again. If we return to a time of lifetime caps, I will no longer have health insurance.......................





https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/to-my-colleagues-in-congress-i-have-ms-dont-make-my-insurance-unaffordable/2017/07/07/bd7bcaea-630b-11e7-8adc-fea80e32bf47_story.html?utm_term=.1a5b2e7551c1

[elleng]

10. Thanks.

[negoldie]

12. Chemo

I have Mantle Cell lymphoma. You can read about it here lls.org. I hit the million dollar mark (a pretty standard lifetime limit) 10 months into chemo. I took chemo two days in a row twice a month for a year and a half then twice a month for the last six months. I have been in remission for six months now (rare as the non Hodgkin lymphoma itself) but they are leaving my port in because it can come back any time. I get bills daily running from $14-$8700. Hell the wife and I already give the drug store $250-300 a month. I had a bad seizure back at the end of May and the 35 mile ambulance ride was $7500. Five days in the hospital was a bargain at $10,000 a day. Most bills aren't itemized so I have no idea what the bill is for. I have medicare and a medicare advantage plan (useless) between the two of us we make $42 a month too much for snap, medicaid or extra help for drug costs. We spend 40% of our monthly income on our medical needs.
Without the ACA I'm dead, No hyperbole, no exageration, nothing. MCL is chronic, fewer than 15,000 Americans have this hideous god damn disease, about 3% of non Hodgkin patients. I was given three years back in '14, I feel like I got a short reprieve with my remission. If ya want to know more you can always contact me though du e-mail. Still working on learning the ropes at this site so bear with me. Take care all!

[flying_wahini]

15. Just hang on Neogoldie! You can never know what the future may bring.

Maybe they will keep what we have now insurance wise. ..
Strange things have happened!

[0rganism]

6. the GOP healthcare plan for those of us with MS and other progressive diseases

1. Are you rich? if so you can be sick
2. Otherwise pls die quickly and out of sight of any rich people

[lamp_shade]

7. Oh no. Keep fighting, Donna.

[riversedge]

8. I have always like her. Wish her and her family well. I am still appauled that pre-existing

conditions are battered around like a floppy fish amongst Republicans. Shame on them.

[Turbineguy]

11. My thoughts on this are as follows

and this is strictly my opinion.

To appeal for kindness from the republicans is a pointless exercise. If they wanted to have a healthcare plan for Americans, they would have one, and it would be great. Because having a healthcare plan would show that they can actually govern. They have no interest in governing, only power, and it's not the same thing. A good government has policies that make people glad they live in this country.

Healthcare is not a right. Rights are already spelled out in the Constitution. Now, if you think that having a healthy society is a good idea and a worthwhile investment, that's another thing. But considering how republicans feel about education that's also unlikely.

Then we have the display of people with rare, but hugely expensive diseases. Terrible as they are, they are outliers. Most people don't have them. And conservatives don't want to pay for those who do. From an economic standpoint it makes no sense to spend a million bucks on a small child when you have no way of knowing in advance what this child might bring to the table. Remember, you are dealing with heartless people and not everybody is born to be an investment banker or some other valuable looter.

What's left over then is that for the average person, who may be generally fairly healthy, a trip to the emergency room will be a terrible financial burden. Probably no new car for a few years. And if your child gets a burst appendix, it's bankruptcy city. I think we need to appeal to the healthy people on what can very well happen to them, and forget the appeals to conscience.

[broadcaster90210]

13. They. Don't. Care.

nt

[Skittles]

18. I agree with this assessment

repukes absolutely do not care how their garbage affects people who need healthcare. They care more about tax cuts for rich assholes and deregulation for the companies who buy repuke congressmen.

[riversedge]

14. Please send this to your Senator and Rep.

[Bengus81]

16. Thanks for bringing this to the fore front. Hope they read and listen.......n/t

[BigmanPigman]

17. She was on Brian Williams tonight (Thur).

I am in the same boat but mine has a bigger leak and is sinking faster unfortunately. The only thing I regret is that I probably won't live long enough to be proud of my country and its citizens again.